To be honest , I like both the Operator's and Drifter's story arcs but how you said about the "Whispers in the wall" quest, its just soo strange that both Operator and Drifter don't talk . To be sincer , i like to play the Operator more but even him I don't play that much ussually because I don't really need the buffs he really gives , maybe only in close death encounters. I felt like they were left out a lot in that quest . I played that quest 2 times because i skipped a cutscene by accident in the first run and I wanted to see it , but I felt kinda bored doing that quest , nothing that interesting ,the only thing that felt interesting to me was th bit of the story about 1999.

Fantastic analysis. I really felt it when we played the weak drifter, it held so much more weight to save the universe as a dude with a gun, with real mortality, fighting against literal gods

The drifter feels like he has more of a personality than the operator. But the operator has gotten dialogue in the Jade shadows quest.

Huh. You touched on a point I never really had found ihn my mind, that binds a lot of things I feel and do in WF together. I really find the Drifter a great and much more interesting character than most. The fed-up, broken and cynical outward presentation, while still having a sense of right and wrong and the willpower to push on towards those goals despite the apathy, jadedness and existential tiredness, really struck home. To stay true to your values, despite how hopeless the situation gets, and remembering to focus on them through all the human struggles in such a traumatic backdrop. And I can really see how the idea of the Drifter and the Operator complementing each other would really be able to give a lot. I mostly play alone in WF, and often go just plain old stealth despite nothing forcing me to. Hanging on the walls above doors, using silenced weapons/bows and thrown weapons, mainly trying to stealth kill my way through. Or I might just leave the warframe at the door and just go the whole mission without it. But yeah, I miss the gear from the New War Drifter, and that the Drifter as a character would get a resurgeance and care they need. DE goes so much all over the place with what WF has, that I don't feel it would be that out of place to add something like that. But I also understand the business and developmental sides and the amount of work and resources for something not that many (referring to the results of the questionnaire @slygamer6035 wrote about) would enjoy and return on the investment and thus I don't think it will ever be. Would be awesome if I'm wrong.

Slowed down gameplay as an alternative to our walking genocide machines is a brilliant idea, imo. I hope they expand on this aspect of the game. It truly shows you how powerful warframes are actually are.

It's a pity that Drifter didn't get Teshin's melee moveset. I was hoping that instead of having the Tenno's default Void powers, Teshin's swords instead manifest the Void as elemental powered melee skills.

I wish drifter could actually get more access to more outfits The vent kids armor being one of them because no hood has a bandana on operator and I wanna have bandana on drifter so I can become boss from MGS I even have eye patch too 😔

They copied destiny 2 Drifter.

I only play as drifter so I can ship her with umbra. Honestly, the character is a bit dull and cannon choice is clearly the operator (thanks stalker quest).

They really need to bring a Corpus gameplay as with Veso-R

Sadly, I believe this is just a symptom of WarFrame development in general. It is spread *wide*, but *thin*. It's always "Oh we got this great idea for new stuff" but the previous ones are left to the dust. Most of the new game modes that have been added into the years have no more depth than the one instance they are relevant, you play them a couple hours and then you forget them and go to the next.

I agree wholeheartedly. When I switched to the drifter after The New War and it was exactly the same, I was very disappointed. I prefer my operator in quests and general gameplay, but the drifter was an extremely good character that deserves better. I really want to see the drifter see a shift in how their gameplay works. With the ending of Whispers in the Walls, we could see the drifter lose their void powers, or they could deny them. The drifter needs to be the guardian between void and matter, so, we have an entire mode possible, completely dedicated to the drifter. Then, the drifter and operator modes could actually mean something. I’m still not sure if the switch should be in the orbiter only in that case, or be possible mid mission. I have so many ideas that I can think through, but I won’t have much ability to put them to use unless I can work for DE. I hope they see this video, maybe this comment as well.

Tryharding spy missions and the New War drifter content showed that DE could make an awesome slow stealth game, and they have, but made it one of the least meaningful and necessary ways to play in WF. The New War was so good that all the quests ive unlocked to do since have felt worse in comparisson, even tho I really liked the theming for Whispers and Angels. And WF1999 went super hard, despite essentially being darkSector/Excalibur gameplay

I have to disagree here, part of the plot of the new war is that the drifter and the operator are the same person. Its not "due to eternalism" that they cant exist around eachother. Its that they are two parts of one whole hence the scene at the end where the drifter and the operator are phasing in and out as they talk to the lotus, yet they dont miss a beat because they share a mind and share and existence the drifter explains DURING the new war that the zariman is the only place they can chat like that because its also a paradox, stuck between the real and the void. it makes perfect sense that in the drifter would no longer be an independent character and an "operator skin" as you put it because they are literally the same so the combined tenno really is able to change between child and adult like changing clothes. If anything even easier.

I really wish DE did more with Drifter, or at the very least acknowledge them. Since they arrived (iirc), they had their own animations and voice lines for the Angels Of The Zariman cutscenes, could briefly appear instead of Operator in Whispers In The Walls, and then you cant use them at all in Jade Shadows. Id love if you could use their weapons and bow in operator mode, instead of the amp

knowing DE they are not doing this until another decade

I like the idea of outgrowing the warframes. And the drifter was a good start. Should have added a 3 and 4 based more on gagets like smoke gernades or maybe advanced techniques like void blades and possessing enemy troops.

Over the years, I've grown very attached to my Operator character, but after the Drifter came along, I've come to really love both of them. I find myself viewing the Operator as a younger sibling and honestly crushing on the Drifter.

12:36 I feel you're wring about this off the simple fact in the new war you choose which version of yourself would continue your story and save the lotus...that being said I feel in that moment both respective realities were merged, with your choice taking them helm so it makes sense as to why the drifter would develop void abilities...I feel the only true disservice is not being able to use the drifters train combat ability(the use of the weapons in divuri) along side the void abilities...I feel when using the drifter we should have access to those weapons with maybe a debuff to Amp ability, seeing how the drifter isn't as accustomed to said abilities but also retaining their martial weapon skills

The drifiter is cool but far from warframes greatest. I dont understand people who want to try to slow warframe down the are 100s slow methodical stealth games, warframe is one of if not the fasstest shooter on the market play a different game for slow stealth the stealth in warframe is supposed to be more fast-paced and ninja-esque. Warframe is among my favourite games because its so fast paced isn't every basic shooter the gameplay you get from the drifter why not just play one of them?

Honestly loved playing as the drifter and fighting the enemies while being more grounded and normal. No super speed magic instant death stuff, just skill.

I really want to hear you take on the leaked romance plot involving the drifter.

This was the only way they could have the tenno be a adult the size change is drastic and that why we are able to wear armor on the drifter but not the tenno. It's a scale issue. I always wanted the story to have my character grow up so a new player is a small child still since they are fresh out of dream.and we have been awake for awhile now

I abandoned the operator so fast once I unlocked the drifter

Problem with such gameplay in warframe is the fact that Warframe is a looter shooter, and only instance where such gameplay could be implemented could be only the one where looting is no longer a significant portion of progress. For an instance, Kahl missions, despite being similar, lost their playerbase the moment new types of missions were introduced, despite being as repetitive as any other type of missions in solo, despite the reward for them being much more significant then any other, and achievable faster then solo archon hunts. Development of stealth based gameplay on the other hand takes much more effort then majority of other missions (that is why a significant portion of Kahl missions were lifted from NW with slightly altered paths). Making it into a multiplayer experience will either change it into a slow slaughterfest with a lot of walking, wich was a plague of pre-parcour2.0 Warframe, players optimized with specific weapons to the point where meelee become a stat stick with only one available option. If there is an option to witness NW Drifter again, it's in solo quests, but even then, encounter design will not be an easy task to assigned developers. About drifter being basically the same character as the operator after NW, it makes sense to me specifically because our (players) connection to Tenno became efectively the same as our connection to Lotus and Cavia, despite them not being available for gameplay, but aligned in their desire to appear in certan way. I don't know where DE is going with it naratively, but I definitely expect it to be a buildup to some sort of revelation eventually. Alongside the choice in WITW.

Give me Drifter whit a litte faster move becouse all the time its feels like he always have to take weapon from graund and scrob floor ths not natural slownes is strange*

Oh god drifter with incarnate weapons

I'm still praying for Veso's Veilbreaker quest because I LOVE combat puzzles and want to see better set pieces to strategically conquer! Also Veso-R is the GOAT. For Profit.

For the record: I agree with you! The Drifter was such a well-written character in "The New War." Knowing what we know now about what happened in Duviri, the Drifter has the potential to be a very layered character. I don't know if you watch DE's Devstreams, but they've addressed the topic of the Drifter's gameplay once. Not sure which number, but it was at the beginning of 2022. DE explained that slowing the gameplay down has its benefits and showed why they chose this approach. They even created a survey after "The New War" to analyze the impact of that update. Nonetheless, apparently, the survey showed that many players really disliked the Drifter segments. Essentially, they'll move the Drifter's gameplay into Warframe's sister project: Soulframe. As a kind of veteran of this game, I think Digital Extremes has written themselves into corners. Let me explain: The mod system used by skilled players turns Warframes into MCU characters who can negate gameplay. DE doesn't want to punish their audience for finding new meta, so they introduce new characters like Kahl, Veso, Teshin, the Drifter, the Stalker, etc. To me, "Whispers in the Wall" just continued this trend of moving the focus from the Operator. I believe Warframe 1999 will not be different in that regard.

PUUUUUUUUSH. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE, YOU'RE BEING SO STRONG.

After the New War, I am now constantly in Drifter mode as it represents me more as an adult person. In general, I agree with the author's opinion. And I’m glad that the author not only criticizes, but also suggests. This is very reasonable. DE is known for listening to its community. So we have a good chance that they will give at least a little more love to Drifter in the future than they do now. But it all depends on how clearly we convey this idea to them.

I feel bad for DE cause they try new things and actually talk to us about their ideas then see the feedback and will change their minds people need to remember this was a dream game they made it’s made with love and hope but having half the people u want to make happy complain if u do give them what they want still have the other half that complains cause they don’t like it 😢

I so much hate decision that drifter is operator from another dimention, the story should be that operator survived ballas and now, after some time passed, as an adult he's rebel against his terror. So when i play the game im just telling myself that drifter IS our operator, because time has passed and i do not consider teenage version anymore.

DE definitely played it too safe with the Drifter, the Drifter is essentially just the Operator but older, and only really stands out in Duviri where it just gets repetitive fast; I was genuinely disappointed that the Drifter can't use guns like the teaser trailer showed, and can only use melee in Duviri but not in other missions...

Considering the fact that they couldnt even be bothered to change all the clothes of the operator for the drifter and the amps(i hate looking at the Sirroco ever time i switch my amps), i doubt they will ever make the Drifter anything but "Operator but older". Also such a shame they didnt Update the Naramon focus tree to fit the Drifters melee combat from duviri. Afterall the Naramon focus tree its melee focused. They can keep Drifters void powers but they can also make her more distinct than the operator hell it dosent even have voicelines like the operator when you are playing the game normaly. Also i really wanted to see Wally reaction to the Drifter in Whispers in the Wall but dam the Operator in general in that quest its just mute lol. Also where was the Lotus during that entire quest???? The overall story of Whispers its cool but it feel too detached....

I think i need drifter/operator combat like a void infused knife and we can actually use drifter/operator more (I’m a newbie and i have no experience using drifter/operator)

hmm , 11 year vet here F, that's weird to write , but i'm afraid that de doesn't really do continuous plot , and chr development , each new update is a new take or a new surprise , or a new retcon there's a reason that picking a Lotus skin is a huge plot line ; we're picking how we see her on a personal level , is she a machine a mother or a handler to us , and all are valid . which version of Alvin V is current ... idk for sure and with the whole dualism , DE take on it that they all are ... Divuri 's Drifter is done folded into the Operator, but DE loves open worlds and given that Divuri is a book , i can see another book open world with another Drifter re-nerfed down weapons and warframes ripped away , and the cycle repeating , but i just don't see any chr growth just more Suprise revels , surprise were not warframe we're magic children , surprise our powers come from the man in the wall , surprise our powers really come from a heart controlled by a family , surprise .... i have learned to embrace the game play and ignore the meta-narrative plot .

Perfect 😂this was funny asf

What faces did you use for your drifter

I am kinda new 600 days tomorrow, my favorite part of the game is Duviri. Using the drifter to fight ride the Kaithe play komi solve puzzles save sick animals and fly around flying as a bird is almost never boring. I run Durivi SP arcane portals solo most of the time. So for me the game is still about 50% using the drifter. Unfortunately fighting is usually bugged and shooting results in melee and melee is just walking into enemy attacks but if you hit and hold aim melee and shoot your drifter unleashes hell on everything ( and random teammates think you are cheating). I do hope a drifter story line is developed but will it be needed? Prototype warframes that ride motorcycles and hopefully a lot of other cool stuff are being introduced to the game. I really enjoy the drifter but am really looking forward to the new characters and story lines in 1999.

I LOVE Whispers. I cannot shut up about it and tell everyone I meet about it. But yes I fully agree with this. There being no difference between the Drifter and Operator and there being no dialog whatsoever was a massive disappointment. Overall after completing the New War, I was quite disappointed that the Drifter was just the Operator but adult and nothing more. But I held hopes that maybe they'll add more in the future. But after we've had several post New War updates that didn't do that, I started being a bit more skeptical. Overall I fully agree with you and don't have anything to ad oitside of personal emotions. Which is a bit of a rarity. But I'm just leaving a comment for the algorithm!

what quest was this?

Ngl I thought bro was byf for a solid second

This

I dont think it would make sense for the drifter to revert to a state with no powers, as their aquisition if those powers were foreshadowed through their whole story. If the drifter still played how they did in New War, for every quest, they would essentially have to design 2 quests. One balanced around the slow and stealthy combat of the drifter, and one balanced around the fast-paced and extremely powerful tenno and their Warframes. I do agree that the Drifter could use more differentiation, though. Maybe additional or unique abilities when playing as the drifter instead of the operator, though it would need to be balanced so one is not just straight up better than the other, which would be the case if the drifter retained their New War gameplay. The drifter/operator arc is, in a way, complete. I don't expect that the choice between them will be more than flavor and dialogue differences in future quests, similar to Angels of The Zariman. And while this is a bit disappointing, it is understandable because designing different gameplay, visuals, voices, dialogue, etc, would not be viable for creating new quests at their current pace. I think there is still room for more gameplay in the style of the Drifter from New War, but I don't think it needs to come from the drifter we have now.

Alternative title: Glazing the drifter for 18 mins. Jk man, Its a pretty well made video and I agree that the drifter has been forgotten pretty quickly after it was just introduced. It's a ༼ ಠل͟ಠ༽ˢʰᵃᵐᵉ cause the characters could've been used alot better then just it being operator's stand in as you've said or should I sah the glorified operator skin.

crazy video, was very interesting!

Perhaps the devs just think its too much of a contrast to the rest of the game. Even though variety is the spice of life.

Warframe lore videos are always welcomed on my feed