Warframe studio Digital Extremes has announced that they are working on a new free-to-play game called Keystone.  The game, which is beginning its closed alpha phase this weekend, is a team-based FPS “with a distinct blend of first-person action and deck-building strategies,” according to a blog post on the Canadian publisher’s website.  In the statement found below, Sheldon Carter, the studio head at Digital Extremes, reveals that a completely separate internal team is working on Keystone, which was made possible by Warframe’s time-tested success.

“The long-running success of Warframe has enabled us to build up a second internal team to create a wholly different but equally satisfying game concept that we’re really excited about.  Keystone originates from our roots in the FPS world and mixing genres like we have done with Warframe. We believe there’s room to expand the confines of what defines a good FPS and hope our community will see the potential and get on board for the ride.”

As seen in the top image, the Warframe studio’s art direction for Keystone is that of the “1970’s retro-pulp era,” with players going on a journey through a “multi-verse” that is represented by a mystical board game.  Both the player and their teammate’s customized decks of cards help contribute “handy benefits, amazing powers, and fearsome weapons”  to both the board game and the FPS phases of Keystone.  The premise certainly sounds interesting, and those lucky enough to get invites to the first wave of the closed alpha will be able to try the game out between May 26-29.

Despite there being very little information currently available for Keystone, it is likely that Digital Extremes’ newest free-to-play game will hit the ground running as long as even a fraction of the Warframe community expresses interest in the game.  Warframe is consistently on the list of the top free-to-play games on Steam, and it will be interesting to see how Digital Extremes transfers that success into a completely new game.

So, thoughts on the mysterious Keystone game?  Plan on trying it out?  Have you signed up for the closed alpha?  Let us know in the comments section below, and as always, stay tuned to DFTG for all the latest gaming and entertainment news!  Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for our 24/7 news feed!