Warframe: 1999 sends the Origin System back in time

Digital Extremes released Warframe: 1999 on December 13, 2024 as update 38.0. The free chapter takes the game to Höllvania on New Year’s Eve, introduces The Hex and builds a relationship system around six Protoframes.

Warframe 1999: confirmed details

The Hex quest follows Arthur, Aoi, Amir, Eleanor, Lettie and Quincy during the city’s Techrot crisis. Completing it opens Hex Syndicate bounties, the Hollvania tileset, new enemies and the Calendar. Players can speak with the team through the KIM messaging interface, build chemistry and pursue optional romances. Gemini skins allow switching between a Warframe and its voiced Protoframe presentation.

What changed for players

The update changes the social rhythm as much as the combat setting. Messages and periodic conversations make reputation feel connected to named characters, while the Atomicycle speeds travel through broad city streets. Cyte-09 adds a new Warframe to the roster, and new weapons and arcanes give returning players goals beyond completing the cinematic quest once.

Availability and lasting context

Warframe: 1999 launched across the game’s supported platforms as part of the continuing free-to-play release. It requires progression through earlier story quests, so it is not an alternate starting campaign. Later additions expanded the 1999 storyline, but The Hex, Höllvania and the relationship framework originated with update 38.

This report separates features released on the stated date from later patches and community expectations. Balance values and platform support can change, but the documented release history remains the same.

Sources: primary release notes or official records. Factual claims were checked against these records; interpretation is our own.

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