The Jade Shadows: Constellations update for Warframe has arrived with two new protoframes that serve as mentors rather than romantic options. Studio representatives discussed the decision to vary protoframe roles and avoid player burnout from repeated romance mechanics.
Digital Extremes released the Jade Shadows: Constellations update for Warframe on June 18, introducing protoframes Ryoku and Vena. These characters mentor the brothers Orion and Sirius instead of being available for romance, leading players through a choice between them and a subsequent boss fight.
Community manager and live ops lead Megan Everett explained the approach. "What's interesting about Ryoku and Vena is I'm sure people will feel a certain way about them not being romanceable, but they can't all be romanceable," she said. Everett noted that players have shown strong interest in romance options since their introduction in the 2024 Warframe: 1999 expansion.
The studio aims to keep protoframes fresh by mixing roles such as mentors and non-romanceable characters. Everett said the team must pick and choose additions carefully to prevent burnout, even as some past updates like Techrot Encore also featured characters without romance arcs.
