I booted up Warframe in 2026, stared at my Orbiter, and thought: remember when Digital Extremes dropped a devstream that felt like a grocery list for the next three months? Back in early 2021, they announced Nightwave Intermission 3, Star Days, Octavia Prime, Lunar Renewal, Update 30 Call of the Tempestarii, Sevagoth, the Ghoul Saw, and console Orphix Venom. It was a lot. Now, with the benefit of hindsight and far too many Forma, I am here to recap that chaotic roadmap and see how it all aged.

Nightwave: Intermission 3 and the eternal Nora Night voice

Nightwave Intermission 3 went live on February 1, 2021. The devs did not give us a novel-length breakdown, but we knew the drill: new acts, past rewards returning, and duplicate protection so you would not keep earning the same old junk. In 2026, Nightwave has cycled through so many intermissions and seasons that I have lost count. Nora Night still whispers in my Orbiter like a radio host who refuses to leave the party. I respect it.

Star Days: Ticker, wings, and fashion frame supremacy

Star Days ran from February 11 to 24, 2021, and it revolved around Ticker, the debt collector with a heart of gold and a store full of event-themed items. The headline for me was permanent wing cosmetics. Not temporary, not a rental, not a weird favor from a Syndicate. Permanent. You could customize style, color, and ephemeral effects. The wings even went transparent when aiming down sights, which is the kind of quality-of-life detail that makes a fashionista weep.

In 2026, permanent wings are just another Tuesday in Warframe. I can make my Titania look like a neon moth, my Wisp look like a cosmic butterfly, and my Rhino look ridiculous in the best way. But back then, this was a big deal. It was the moment fashion frame took one more step toward total domination.

Octavia Prime: drop the beat, grind the relics

February 23, 2021, brought Octavia Prime. If you wanted the musical murder machine, you had to grind relics, build parts, and probably sacrifice a small pile of Void Traces to RNG. Her abilities, Mallet, Resonator, Metronome, and Amp, turned every mission into a personal concert with extra explosions.

In 2026, Octavia Prime has been vaulted, unvaulted, traded, and memed. She remains the frame you bring when you want to solo survival while your teammates wonder why the entire map is dancing. The grind was real, but the beat was worth it.

Lunar Renewal and the Year of the Ox

Around the same time, Warframe rolled out a Lunar Renewal event for the Year of the Ox. It was a seasonal celebration with themed content, cosmetics, and the usual limited-time energy. In 2026, we have cycled through many zodiac animals, and I still do not fully understand how the calendar works. I just log in, grab the free stuff, and bow politely to a decorative Ox.

Update 30: Call of the Tempestarii and Sevagoth

The big one was Update 30, Call of the Tempestarii. It introduced Sevagoth, the necromancy-based frame who can conjure apparitions and deal area-of-effect damage. The update also came with a new mission for him, and there was talk of possible Zephyr changes. Digital Extremes did not announce an exact date at first, but we expected it between March and April. It landed, and Sevagoth became the edgy ghost captain of our dreams.

In 2026, Sevagoth Prime exists. Of course he does. The edgy ghost got a shiny gold upgrade, because Warframe is a game where even the dead get a Prime Access. Zephyr also got changes over the years, though I still occasionally fly into a wall and call it a tactical repositioning.

The Ghoul Saw: the rideable dream that got away

Then there was the Ghoul Saw, a giant buzz-saw melee weapon. No release date at the time, but the devs said they were working on a way to let players ride the weapon. Let me repeat that: ride. The. Weapon. Do not try this at home, unless your home is the Origin System and your health insurance covers buzz-saw related incidents.

In 2026, the Ghoulsaw is a real melee weapon. You can rev it, slam it, and pretend you are in a grindhouse film. Can you ride it like a hoverboard? Not in any official, reliable way. The dream lives on in our hearts and in a few cursed bug clips.

Operation: Orphix Venom on consoles

Finally, Operation: Orphix Venom finished its PC run and came to consoles. Console Tenno could finally hop into their Necramechs and fight off Sentient serpents. It was chaotic, it was loud, and it was exactly the kind of event where you either loved your Voidrig or you hated every second of it.

In 2026, Orphix Venom is a memory, but Necramechs are still stomping around the system. I still take my Voidrig out for a spin when I want to feel like a heavily armed refrigerator with legs.

The 2021 roadmap, graded in 2026

So here I am in 2026, still playing Warframe, still chasing new updates, and still thinking about that 2021 devstream. It promised wings, ghosts, a giant saw, and a Valentine's event run by a debt collector. Somehow, Digital Extremes delivered most of it, and the parts they did not deliver became memes. That is the Warframe experience: chaotic, generous, buggy, and absolutely impossible to quit. I will see you in the Origin System. I will be the one trying to ride a Ghoulsaw. 🛹🪚