Warframe: Tau comes out in December 2026 on every platform, but Digital Extremes has not named the exact day yet. The official Tau page says “Coming December 2026 to All Platforms”, and DE calls it the game’s “most expansive update ever”.
The next official word is due at Devstream 199 on November 27, the second of two Tau showcases, which DE says will cover Tau’s game modes, the Portau card game and the Lastbloom Lounge. Below: what has been confirmed, what has not, everything announced for the update, and how to get ready.
What DE Has Confirmed So Far
| Question | Answer as of November 6 |
|---|---|
| Release month | December 2026 |
| Exact day | Not announced |
| Platforms | All platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android |
| Next showcase | Devstream 199 (Tau Showcase: Part Two), November 27 |
| Price | Free, like every Warframe update; the new Chimera Skin is a premium customization |
DE has not promised a weekday, but its last four major updates all went live on a Wednesday: Update 41.0 on December 10, 2025, Update 42.0 on March 25, 2026, Jade Shadows: Constellations on June 17, 2026, and Iceblade of Narin on September 23, 2026. Treat that as a pattern, not a date, and watch Devstream 199 for the official day.
The Tau Star Chart: Fornax and Perita
Tau gets its own Star Chart, separate from the Origin System, which DE says will still have plenty to do. December brings two destinations, with more planned for later updates:
- Fornax, a lawless, mob-run ring city run by a kingpin called the Hunra and guarded by the Fornax Drowners, a new faction of Sentient enemies. It has two hubs, the Lastbloom Lounge and Manifold 90-BF, linked by a highway with grapple points and garages.
- Perita, a collapsed desert world of feuding Dazannah clans, where a chieftain’s young son, Catulast, asks the Tenno for help. DE plans about six missions there at launch, plus a new Syndicate, the Cleaving Glaive.
Brysko, Prime Unvaults and the Rest of the Update
Brysko, the 67th Warframe. A noir detective with an inner monologue voiced by Matt Mercer, a Hound companion, the Rain and Shine fist weapons and the Corecracker exalted pistol. His abilities are still in development, DE says. He also debuts the Chimera Skin, a new class of premium customization that lets you switch between his Warframe look and a more Sentient one on the fly, much like a Protoframe.
A new cinematic quest, tentatively estimated at two to three hours long.
Portau, Warframe’s first original card game, built on suits of Blooms, Cores, Moons and Suns.
A Tau Steel Path, where the Hunra’s underlings take the place of the Acolytes. If you have not unlocked the mode yet, our guide on how to unlock the Steel Path lists every requirement.
Ten Prime unvaults. DE says ten Prime Warframe sets will be “permanently unvaulted” with their Relics added as rewards on Perita. It has not said which ten.
How to Get Ready Before Tau
- Finish the Tau Prologue quest. It was added to the Codex on October 15 and stays permanently. DE says completing it lets you “dive right in” when Tau launches. To access it, you first need The Hex and The Old Peace.
- Play Epoch Operation: Taubound before it ends on November 17. It is a one-time event with no reruns: complete missions on Eris to collect Moonflesh for the Sentient mothership Praghasa and trade it for rewards. Anyone who has finished Vor’s Prize can reach Eris during the operation, whatever their Star Chart progress.
- Build up your arsenal. Tau will have its own Steel Path, so a strong Warframe pays off. The newest ones are covered in our guides on how to get Narin and how to get Sirius and Orion.
- Watch Devstream 199 on November 27 for the game modes and any news on the exact day.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Warframe Tau update come out? In December 2026. DE has not announced the exact day yet; Devstream 199 on November 27 is the next scheduled showcase.
Is Warframe: Tau free? Yes, it is a free update. The new Chimera Skin for Brysko is a premium customization.
Which platforms get Tau? All of them: DE’s Tau page says “Coming December 2026 to All Platforms”.
Who is the new Warframe in Tau? Brysko, the 67th Warframe, a noir detective voiced in his inner monologue by Matt Mercer.
Which Primes are being unvaulted with Tau? DE has confirmed ten Prime Warframe sets will be permanently unvaulted through Perita’s rewards but has not named them.
What quest do you need for Tau? DE recommends finishing the Tau Prologue quest, which requires The Hex and The Old Peace.