Ahead of TennoCon 2024, Digital Extremes held a media preview of the Warframe: 1999 content that would be unveiled during the Canadian convention. Chronologically, everything will begin next month with the release of the Prologue Quest called The Lotus Eaters. The developers described it as a 'micro-story' that follows directly from the events of Whispers in the Walls and sets the stage for Warframe: 1999.
The August update ships alongside the Sevagoth Prime, an enhanced form of the dark helmsman in signature gold trim and complete with exclusive weapons and accessories. The developers are holding the following update 'closer to the chest' and will only reveal it during the Tokyo Game Show (slated for September 26-29). The only thing they were able to say at this time is that it will include a new Warframe and some pretty substantial quality-of-life enhancements, such as a Caliban rework and free access to base Caliban. The truly big one, though, will be the newly added ability to favorite items in the UI. Additionally, the Fall update will introduce new Incarnons and the Companions 2.0 Part 2 overhaul.
In the gameplay footage, Hex squad leader Arthur Nightingale (codenamed Excalibur) and his ragtag team band together in an alternate version of Earth against Entrati. After a bit of bickering with the team (composed of Technician Amir Beckett, AKA Volt; Logistics Aoi Morohoshi, AKA Mag; Marksman Quincy Isaacs, AKA Cyte-09; Medic Leticia Garcia, AKA Trinity; and Arthur's sister, Psych-Ops Eleanor Nightingale, AKA Nyx), Arthur heads out onboard his Atomicyle bike, which is capable of drifting, bullet-jumping, and even acting as an impromptu explosive if you let it go and watch it crash into your enemies.
The Atomicyle clearly retains an arcade, stylish driving style, which fits very well with Warframe, and it can be seen doing all sorts of cool tricks. Eventually, though, Arthur has to dismount to fight the minions of Scaldra Commander Major Neci Rusalka before eventually getting into a boss fight with a tank. By the way, Digital Extremes confirmed the Atomicyle will be usable elsewhere in the game's open zones, too.
Following the defeat of the tank, Arthur closes in on Entrati's supposed location, only to meet face-to-face with the Excalibur Warframe, as you can see in the featured image. In the Q&A portion, Digital Extremes also mentioned a series of Technocyte weapons to grind out.
The real kicker, though, is that the developers are adding a romance system with Warframe: 1999. Players will be able to send e-mail messages to other members of the Hex squad and eventually, if they 'play their cards right', even get a New Year's kiss. Interestingly, Digital Extremes also teased that somehow, a virus from 1999 will make it back to the Origin system, infecting the ship. Much to the joy of the community, the Infested Liches are finally coming to the game with the Technocyte Coda boyband and their single “PARTY OF YOUR LIFETIME” will be available to stream starting tomorrow on Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Apple Music, and more.
Additionally, fully voice acted and customizable Gemini Skins for Protoframes and base Warframes with exclusive emotes will be obtainable. Excalibur, Nyx, Cyte-09, Trinity, Mag, and Volt will all be able to use their respective Protoframes as Gemini Skins, meaning you could switch from Excalibur to Arthur Nightingale in the middle of the mission.
By the way, the Hex team's voice cast is very high-profile: Amelia Tyler (the narrator in Baldur’s Gate 3), Kevin Afghani (Luigi in Super Mario Bros. Wonder), Melissa Medina (Zanuhali and Nitowikwe in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail), Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (one of the available player voices in Forza Horizon 5), Alpha Takahashi (Hanako Arasaka in Cyberpunk 2077), and Ben Starr (Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI).
High-fidelity Heirloom skins for the Ember and Rhino Warframes won't be time-gated anymore. Ember's is available now, while Rhino's is coming in early 2025. Lastly, the studio is working with animation arthouse THE LINE on a Warframe: 1999 anime short that will be released this year.
At TennoCon 2024, Digital Extremes also showed off again its sister project, Soulframe. You can read about that here.
