Warframe 1999: Release Date and What To Expect

Warframe 1999 takes a radically new approach to Warframe’s story, setting and aesthetic as the game jumps back to a year before the New Millenium. Here, we get to see the iconic Warframes in their human form as they hunt down Dr. Entrati. In this update, the Tenno will find traces of the Techrot hanging about in the Origin System, which will be the starting point for 1999’s plot.

 

Much like the Y2K problem, Arthur and the Protoframes race against the clock to find Dr. Entrati and undo whatever calamity will befall by the start of the new year. There will be many story beats and Warframe items to chase for players come Winter 2024. 

The Protoframes

First seen in the trailer for Warframe 1999 is Arthur, the human template for the iconic Excalibur Warframe. Other Protoframe agents have been revealed in the gameplay trailer, with Aoi representing Mag, Amir representing Volt, Lettie as Trinity, Eleanor as Nyx, and finally, Quincy as 1999’s new Warframe named Cyte-09. 

 

Digital Extremes announced that these characters will be part of a new skin category called Gemini skins, allowing players to switch their Warframes with the Protoframes by using a special emote. They come with their own voice lines and special animations and can even be customized separately from the original Warframe. It’s still unknown if these skins will cost Warframe platinum or be a reward for completing the 1999 questline. 

The Hex

With every new content update in Warframe, we will receive a new Syndicate. This is The Hex Syndicate, and its members are the Protoframes discussed earlier. This Syndicate will be the main source of your rewards in 1999, allowing to purchase blueprints like the AX-52 assault rifle. They are also part of Warframe 1999’s romanceable option as players can choose to date any of the Protoframes. 

New Enemies: The Scaldra and The Techrot

No update is complete without having new enemies to fight. First shown is the Scaldra, a military force that looks a lot like the precursors of the Grineer. Led by Major Neci Rusalka, they’ll be the main enemy faction that players will go up against. The Scaldra are a militaristic force that uses conventional tactics, with a bunch of enemy specialists and elites to face off. 

 

Also part of the new update is the Techrot, a variant of the Infestation that infects any technology that it touches. Old DE fans will see some similarities between the Techrot of 1999 and the Technocyte from Dark Sector, one of Digital Extreme’s first games. 

 

The Techrot will also feature a new boss with the 90’s boy band, Online. They’ll be the Infestation version of the Kuva Lich and Sisters of Parvos, with each boyband member having randomized resistances, abilities, and randomized Lich rewards to chase. 

New Open-World: Hollvania

The story will take place in the country of Hollvania, Warframe 1999’s new open-world zone. Of course, players will get to traverse through this landscape with the new Atomicycle mount. This will also feature the Hollvania Central Mall as a new Relay for players to prepare for hunting down Dr. Entrati. 

Warframe 1999’s Release Date

While Digital Extremes has a full trailer containing finished gameplay, they stated the game’s release date to be Winter 2024. Expect the game to come around November or December this year. 

How to access Warframe 1999

Players will first need to complete the main story quest of Warframe, starting with The Second Dream all the way up to Whispers in the Walls.