The highly anticipated next narrative chapter of Warframe, Warframe: 1999 has been released. Unveiled during The Game Awards 2024, this expansion offers players an ambitious and nostalgic dive into a reimagined Y2K era, blending romance, action, and Warframe’s signature sci-fi action looter-shooter gameplay. Available across all platforms, Warframe: 1999 is set to be the most musically packed and narratively rich update in the game’s 12-year history.
A Journey Back to 1999
Set in an alternate version of 1999, this expansion takes players to the city-state of Höllvania, where the Protoframes, members of an elite fighting unit known as The Hex, battle two new enemy factions: the Scaldra army and the Techrot infestation. As the clock ticks down to New Year’s Eve, players embark on a single-player quest to uncover dark secrets, form bonds with new characters, and confront the enigmatic Dr. Entrati.
Players can saddle up on the Atomicycle, a new vehicle capable of drifting, bullet-jumping, and explosive attacks, and explore the city across four fresh mission types. These include Faceoff, the game’s first-ever PvPvE mission; Legacyte Harvest, featuring fan-favorite feline Kalymos; Hell-Scrub, a defensive mission against Techrot corruption; and an Assassination mission to take down the H-09 Efervon Tank.
New Warframe and Weapons
The update introduces Cyte-09, the 59th Warframe, who combines stealth and damage to devastating effect. Cyte-09 wields the Neutralizer, an exalted sniper rifle with ricocheting bullets and freezing grenades, and offers abilities like invisibility and elemental ammo supply. Two additional weapons debut: the Reconifex assault rifle and the Vesper 77 pistol.
Expanding the World of Warframe
Warframe: 1999 isn’t just about action—it’s rich with narrative depth. Players can bond with The Hex members—Arthur, Aoi, Lettie, Amir, Quincy, and Eleanor—through the game’s first relationship and romance system. Using the K.I.M. console, players can send private messages, learn backstories, and potentially spark lifelong friendships or romances.
To complement this, the Höllvania Central Mall serves as a hub where players can rest, customize their Protoframe Gemini Skins, and play Caliber Chicks 2, a ‘90s-style arcade game developed in collaboration with Sumo Digital.
Fresh Features and Reworks
The update brings new cosmetic options, including fully voiced Gemini Skins that allow players to transform between Warframe and Protoframe counterparts with unique emotes. Drifter customizations, inspired by ‘90s fashion, are also available, alongside TennoGen accessories like the Millennium Visor Cap and F19 Condroc Headphones.
The update also includes quality-of-life improvements, such as reworks for Nyx and Trinity, increased capacity for Warframe slots, and the removal of Mastery Rank Test cooldowns. Additionally, Warframe: 1999’s soundtrack, featuring hits like On-lyne’s “PARTY OF YOUR LIFETIME,” is now available on streaming platforms and as a limited-edition LP.
The Legacy of Warframe: 1999
With its blend of nostalgia, innovation, and storytelling, Warframe: 1999 offers something for every player. “Our venture into the ‘what if’ Y2K scenario has been a passion project for so many of us,” said Rebecca Ford, Creative Director at Digital Extremes. “We’ve done everything we can to pack this update with romance, music, and action, alongside the core Warframe gameplay fans love.”
For players ready to explore Höllvania and embrace the Protoframe era, Warframe: 1999 is live now.
