Warframe: The Primed Chamber Incident

Summary

The Prime Chamber mod, initially a rare reward from a 2013 event in *Warframe*, became a coveted item in the community due to its limited availability. In 2018, a legendary trade saw two players exchange the mod for a staggering 150,000 Platinum, later increasing to 267,000 Platinum after tax. However, in a shocking twist, the mod was re-released in 2020 for a fraction of its former value, causing its price to plummet. This incident remains one of the most documented and significant trades in *Warframe* history, highlighting the unpredictable nature of in-game item markets.

Takeaways

• 😀 The *Prime Chamber* mod in Warframe was initially awarded to the top 100 players of the *Informant* event in 2013, making it an extremely rare and coveted item.
• 😀 The mod's value skyrocketed due to its scarcity, with early trades reaching 6,000 Platinum, and later trades going as high as 150,000 to 267,000 Platinum.
• 😀 A bug in 2013 allowed players to obtain extra copies of the *Prime Chamber* mod through transmutation, adding uncertainty to the total number of copies in circulation.
• 😀 A YouTuber documented trades where *Prime Chamber* was sold for as much as 50,000 Platinum per copy, cementing its reputation as a collector's item.
• 😀 The *Prime Chamber* mod's value was driven by its exclusivity, with only 100-195 copies in existence across various giveaways and events.
• 😀 One of the largest recorded trades for the mod occurred in 2018, when Reddit user Ashen Toau and a friend sold it for a total of 267,000 Platinum after careful supervision to avoid fraudulent Platinum.
• 😀 The process of moving large amounts of Platinum, especially for rare items, required meticulous care to avoid potential penalties from the Warframe support team for illicit Platinum.
• 😀 The *Prime Chamber* mod's price plummeted dramatically in February 2020 when it was added to the *Baro Ki'Teer* rotation for just 3,000 Ducats and 1 million credits.
• 😀 The re-release of *Prime Chamber* led to a massive market crash, with its price dropping to around 300-400 Platinum, a fraction of its previous value.
• 😀 Despite the market crash, many Warframe players were grateful for the accessibility of the mod, which had previously been out of reach for most.
• 😀 As of December 2024, the *Prime Chamber* mod remains relatively affordable at around 333 Platinum, showing how the market has stabilized post-re-release.

Q & A

What was the Prime Chamber mod and why was it so valuable in Warframe?

The Prime Chamber mod was an exclusive, highly coveted mod introduced during the Informant event in July 2013. Initially, its value was not extraordinary, but its rarity, due to its limited availability (only given to the top 100 players), made it increasingly valuable over time, especially after the release of other primed mods.

How did the Prime Chamber mod become so rare?

The rarity of the Prime Chamber mod was a result of its limited distribution. It was awarded to the top 100 players who killed the most Informants during the event. Additional copies were distributed via Devstream giveaways, contests, and charity streams, but the mod was not obtainable through normal gameplay, further increasing its rarity.

What was the initial price range of Prime Chamber after it became available in the market?

After the mod circulated and gained value, it was reported that it could be sold for as much as **6,000 Platinum** in 2014, an amount considered extravagant even by the standards of rare items like Rivens at the time.

How many copies of Prime Chamber existed by 2018, and what factors contributed to its limited supply?

By 2018, there were roughly 195 copies of Prime Chamber in existence, with some additional copies created due to a bug in 2013 that allowed it to be obtained via transmutation. Factors contributing to its limited supply include the exclusive nature of the mod, giveaways at Devstreams, and special events.

What role did the **Valentine’s Day Massacre** play in the Prime Chamber mod’s history?

The **Valentine’s Day Massacre** occurred in 2020 when the Prime Chamber mod was made available for just **3,000 Orokin Ducats and 1 million credits**, an unexpectedly low price compared to the hundreds of thousands of Platinum collectors had paid for it. This caused the mod's market value to plummet significantly.

What was the total amount of Platinum involved in the legendary Prime Chamber trade?

The total amount of Platinum involved in the legendary trade was an astonishing **267,000 Platinum** after the mod was sold and the trade was split between the seller and their close friend. The agreed price for the mod itself was **150,000 Platinum**.

Why was the process of trading such a large amount of Platinum so difficult?

Trading large amounts of Platinum is difficult due to the associated trade tax and concerns over the legitimacy of the Platinum. Players must ensure the Platinum is earned through legitimate means (not obtained via hacks or exploits) to avoid it being removed from their account, which is why the sellers sought support from Warframe’s customer service during the trade.

How did Warframe's community react to the return of Prime Chamber in 2020?

The community was divided. Many collectors who had spent a huge amount of Platinum on Prime Chamber were upset by its sudden reappearance for a much lower price. However, the broader player base appreciated the mod's return, as it made the mod more accessible to those who couldn't afford the previously inflated price.

What happened to the value of Prime Chamber after it was reintroduced in 2020?

After Prime Chamber was reintroduced for **3,000 Orokin Ducats and 1 million credits**, its value on the Warframe Market plummeted, with the price dropping to around **300-400 Platinum**, which is about **0.175%** of its original price before the reintroduction.

Was the Prime Chamber trade the largest in Warframe history?

While the trade of **267,000 Platinum** is one of the largest documented trades, it is not definitively the largest in Warframe history. There are other trades that may have been larger or more significant, but this trade is one of the most well-documented due to its scale and the dramatic impact it had on the community.