Throughout TennoCon 2024, Digital Extremes placed on the most important present for Warframe to this point. Followers acquired a brand new take a look at Soulframe and discovered about every part coming to their favourite sport later this yr. However the true star of the present was the subsequent enlargement: Warframe: 1999, which launches in winter 2024.

I acquired to see the demo for Warframe: 1999 forward of time and listen to from the builders about all of the totally different actions gamers will be capable of partake in. The gameplay demo itself follows Arthur, an Excalibur Protoframe, and 5 different Protoframes as they comply with a lead on a mysterious character who’s hiding out in Warframe‘s model of 1999.

The demo opens with Arthur stomping round as a result of he’s misplaced his keys, and he’s angrily accusing the opposite Protoframes of getting moved them. That is our introduction to every one, all of whom are characters that may assist flesh out the story and actually humanize the Warframes we’ve been taking part in with for thus lengthy. Digital Extremes additionally revealed that, through a retro 90s-inspired prompt messaging service, we’ll be capable of contact, flirt, and develop a relationship with every of those Protoframes in an effort to safe a New 12 months’s Eve kiss.

Sure, it is possible for you to to replay all the Warframe: 1999 marketing campaign and romance each Protoframe individually.

After assembly the solid, the demo strikes on to see Arthur confronting the Infested forces which are all throughout Earth. It brings to life the very actual worry that was palpable within the lead as much as New 12 months’s Eve in 1999. When the world wasn’t certain if it could get up within the yr 2000 or be obliterated by missiles because of a pc bug.

A few of us have even been joking about how this enlargement is Warframe‘s model of Y2K, and the long run in Warframe is our alternate actuality. Digital Extremes says that’s not the case, although. As a substitute, that is Warframe’s model of the 90s. So, whereas there’s an unique boyband track, retro minigames, and varied 90s iconography in every single place, it steps out of the 90s from time to time as a result of that is the sport’s model of the previous. Not ours.

With that mentioned, the setting oozes 90s environment and completely nails the texture of flip telephones, clunky controls, chunky keyboards. It’s phenomenal simply how effectively this has all been delivered to life by means of a sport that has no tactile components exterior of a controller.

The demo exhibits the environments and a lot extra off in motion, which you need to undoubtedly watch. Probably the most fascinating elements is Arthur’s Atomicycle, which everybody will be capable of unlock and summon to allow them to race across the new sandbox.

One other unimaginable characteristic the enlargement will add is Gemini Skins. These are totally voiced skins in your Warframe that you should utilize to modify between mentioned Warframe and a selected Protoframe. The Protoframes will say all kinds of issues, from sassing your fight abilities to asking to take a break while you’re finished with them.

The demo in 1999 ended with a boss struggle with a large tank that spews poisonous sludge at Arthur. There’s one thing so very Warframe about this that pulls the 90s into this universe in a manner that doesn’t really feel prefer it’s simply reusing Infested from different elements of the sport. It actually does really feel like a complete new chunk has been added onto the expertise, as each Warframe enlargement ought to.

What I really like most in regards to the fight in Warframe: 1999 is how Arthur makes use of grounded weapons with a slight futuristic spin. The AK-47 is the AX-52, and there’s even a rocket launcher that he makes use of to dispatch the tank. There shall be many extra of those Warframe variants of real-life weapons to maintain the enlargement firmly on this 90s vibe all through all the expertise.

Lastly, after finishing this primary mission in 1999, Digital Extremes returned to the current to indicate us how the modern-day Sol System has additionally modified in Warframe. What we’ll discover is an Infested stadium in area the place an Infested boyband, one which’s survived since 1999, is now inflicting all kinds of havoc.

This shall be a repeatable expertise, one the place you’ll be able to choose up new weapons and check your mettle in opposition to some really horrific fight encounters. I feel what I really like finest about this concept is that within the 90s, boybands had been in every single place, so in fact Warframe: 1999 wanted one. As with every part, Digital Extremes put a spin on this concept, making a zombie boyband that you just don’t come to look at. You come to struggle.

Warframe: 1999 is shaping as much as be one thing unimaginable. However it’s content material you’ll be able to’t entry till you’ve accomplished every part else within the story. In the event you’re excited in regards to the thought of exploring a novel tackle the 90s with so many enjoyable concepts floating round that you just don’t simply see; you reside by means of and expertise, then now could be the time to rise up to this point.