On October 15, the gaming world lost one of its cherished creators, Michael “Mynki” James Brennen, who passed away after a relentless battle with cancer. Mynki was a key figure at Digital Extremes and was instrumental as the first art director for Warframe. Even after he officially left the company in 2017, he carried on contributing to the game’s art direction, leaving an indelible mark on what is now a beloved title in the gaming community.
The magic of video games often stems from the collective toil of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of devoted individuals. However, there are a few who manage to carve out a unique legacy in the projects they’ve poured their hearts into—not merely an auteur, but a grounding presence that offers wisdom, creativity, and unwavering support. Mynki was one such person, leaving a lasting impression that his colleagues at Digital Extremes fondly remembered in a recent Devstream segment dedicated to his memory.
Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Rebecca Ford, the current game director, and Kat Kingsley to explore Warframe’s future, including its upcoming relationship system. However, it was also crucial to reflect on Mynki’s enduring influence and understand how the team plans to proceed in his absence. Hopefully, Ford’s insights convey how profoundly a single developer can impact one of the industry’s most successful MMO developers.
Ford shared, “The one thing everyone keeps mentioning is just how humble and gracious Mynki was. From my first day at Digital Extremes, watching him work was an eye-opener. He was not just talented; his kindness was apparent as he created his art, whether he used a stylus on a tablet or a pen on paper—always doodling.”
“I started at DE when we were very much a traditional games studio. Before releasing titles like The Darkness 2, we were brainstorming Warframe, which felt like a last-minute gamble. I recall conversations with Steve and Geoff centered around Mynki’s role, and they simply assured me, ‘Oh, Mynki will handle some Warframes.’ At first, I didn’t quite get it—the game was called Warframe, after all. But soon, I witnessed Mynki’s vision take shape. The team rallied around his concept of what a Warframe should be, and he never disappointed.”
“I can genuinely say that watching how people reacted to Mynki’s work taught me the essence of gratitude, a feeling that sticks with me forever. No experience will ever top that.”
What some fans might not know is that even after Mynki’s departure, his influence on Warframe’s design continued to thrive. Typically, leaving a company signifies a firm goodbye to its inner workings, yet Mynki remained integral, inspiring new directions for the game seven years on.
Ford explained, “We kept in touch, and when new leadership came in, it became apparent how valuable it would be to reconnect with Mynki and get his thoughts on ideas like the Man in the Wall faction or Warframe 1999. That particular spin-off owes its existence to a conversation with him.”
“Even after all this time, I frequently reached out just to see what he was up to, and to bounce wild ideas off him—like an infested boy band or a concrete Warframe. Every time I reached out, Mynki was on board to entertain the ideas. His absence is hard to fathom, especially when I consider his phone calls pushed me to where I am today as creative director. His influence throughout Warframe was colossal.”
Ford captured the prevailing sentiment about Mynki’s impactful artistry with, “Sometimes people saw his work as too out there—but not Mynki.”
And Mynki’s legacy is far from over, thanks to a pivotal document he left behind, filled with his artistically charged ideas likely to guide Warframe’s future direction for years to come.
“During our calls, once with Kary Black—our current art director—Mynki concluded with a document he wrote. It’s something I keep handy at all times, and if Warframe continues thriving, I expect it will remain a vital resource indefinitely. His input, even just a word, has been life-changing for the game.”
For players enjoying video games, it’s easy to overlook the human beings behind the art. Longtime Warframe fans might know of Mynki, but they might not fully grasp how deep his contribution runs. Only those who collaborated with him, day in and out, truly understand his significance.
Ford reminisced about how Mynki even influenced the notion of adding a romance system, “It shows we’ve hardly touched the surface of what Warframe can be. With Warframe being a large part of my life from a young age, I always found myself turning to Mynki for advice on stylistic matters—whether artistic or fashion-inspired.”
“I remember approaching him, nervously brandishing an Alexander McQueen book, worrying he’d find it bothersome given his busy schedule. Yet, he welcomed the topic with open arms and shared my enthusiasm. I wanted to meld high fashion with Warframe, and Mynki took it seriously. He gave space to my ideas and, in turn, I felt validated. His support went beyond simple encouragement, shaping the game’s development and leaving me personally enriched for having known him.”
