Named after a real-world phenomenon where players’ brains are so engrossed that images of the iconic falling Tetrimino blocks (i.e. the Tetris playing pieces) linger in their vision, thoughts, and even dreams, Tetris Effect amplifies this magical feeling of total immersion.

Music, backgrounds, sounds, special effects—everything, down to the Tetris pieces themselves, pulse, dance, shimmer, and explode in perfect sync with how you’re playing.

From deep beneath the ocean to the furthest reaches of outer space and everywhere between, Tetris Effect’s 30-plus stages take players on a wondrous, emotional journey through the universe. The core of the game is still Tetris—one of the most popular puzzle games of all time—but like you’ve never seen it, or heard it, or felt it before.

The new multiplayer expansion joins the 10-plus single-player modes already included in the original Tetris Effect. This is Tetris like you’ve never seen it, or heard it, or felt it before—an incredibly addictive, unique, and breathtakingly gorgeous reinvention of one of the most popular puzzle games of all time, from the people who brought you the award-winning Rez Infinite and legendary puzzle game Lumines. Music, backgrounds, sounds, special effects—everything, down to the Tetriminos themselves, pulse, dance, shimmer, and explode in perfect sync with how you’re playing, making all of the game’s 30+ stages something you’ll want to experience over and over again.

Among the new modes is the titular Connected, where three players can team up and literally connect their Matrix play fields to fight against A.I.-controlled Bosses; Zone Battle, a one-on-one match of standard competitive Tetris, but with a twist: the time-stopping Zone mechanic (first introduced in Tetris Effect’s single-player game); and Score Attack, a “single-player versus” mode, where two players compete separately to see who can get the best score.

Also included is a special variation on Score Attack mode, Classic Score Attack, which brings back the look and feel of Tetris from when it was first introduced to console gamers over 30 years ago. More than just a nostalgic coat of paint, Classic Score Attack recreates the classic controls and settings, including the removal of Hard Drop and the Hold Queue, Tetriminos Lock Down immediately when they touch a surface, and random Tetrimino generation. The mode also pays homage to a standard of “Pro” Tetris competition popularized by the Classic Tetris World Championship, an annual fan event that brings together some of the top Tetris players from all over the world.

The new multiplayer expansion joins the 10-plus single-player modes already included in the original Tetris Effect. This is Tetris like you’ve never seen it, or heard it, or felt it before—an incredibly addictive, unique, and breathtakingly gorgeous reinvention of one of the most popular puzzle games of all time, from the people who brought you the award-winning Rez Infinite and legendary puzzle game Lumines. Music, backgrounds, sounds, special effects—everything, down to the Tetriminos themselves, pulse, dance, shimmer, and explode in perfect sync with how you’re playing, making all of the game’s 30+ stages something you’ll want to experience over and over again.

Enhance and The Tetris Company announced new details today regarding Tetris Effect: Connected’s summer (July) expansion plans, as well as the Steam launch.

CROSS-PLATFORM PLAY

Furthering the game’s goal of bringing people together in cooperation and competition, the Tetris Effect: Connected update (in late July) will allow Friend Match players to invite owners of the game on other platforms (PS4, Epic Game Store, Oculus Quest, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Microsoft Store PC, including Xbox Game Pass) to all play together, via a simple, shareable 4-digit alphanumeric “Room ID” code. (Of course players can also invite others on their same platform directly via that platform’s native invite system as well.)

Display of the Room ID can be disabled for those streaming their matches who wish to keep it private, and all platforms have the option of limiting themselves to players of their same platform. (Note: progress and achievements will not be shared across platforms.)

In addition to breaking down barriers between friends, wherever they might choose to play, cross-platform play will maximize the player base for Ranked Matches, ensuring better matchmaking and more equivalent competition for players at all levels.

BONUS FEATURES

Spectator Mode (Friend Matches Only): The Tetris Effect community’s #1 most-requested feature! Between 4 and 6 additional players, depending on the multiplayer mode, can join a match to watch as spectators (and emote from the sidelines in real-time), adding flexibility and convenience for anyone hoping to run or stream tournaments, or simply making it easier to drop in and out of games with a group of friends.

PAL Speed (Classic Score Attack Mode, Friend and Local Matches Only): A new option designed to replicate the feeling of the European PAL format of the Tetris game from the Nintendo Entertainment System, including a lower framerate, faster horizontal movement, and faster dropping speed in later levels. 

Slow Speed (Zone Battle Mode, Friend and Local Matches Only): The flip-side of the Hyper Fast mode, this option, well, slows things down, with a longer entry delay for new Tetriminos, and slower horizontal movement. Helpful both for beginner players and also for advanced pros who can use the delay for more effective stacking and more devastating Zone Attacks.

BETA TEST

Cross-platform play, together with new platforms and features, represents a significant technical challenge, so Enhance is planning a Beta Test period to help test and improve online play ahead of the official launch of the Tetris Effect: Connected update.

The Beta Test will be available as a separate download to existing accounts that own Tetris Effect (Owner’s Beta), or to any account with a redeemable code (Closed Beta) sent by Enhance, during the periods listed below.

NOTE: Progress in the Beta Test will not carry over in any way to the final game. Online multiplayer on all Xbox consoles requires Xbox Live Gold or PlayStation Plus on PS4 (subscriptions sold separately).

ALSO NOTE: All dates listed can be thought of as “by 8pm Pacific Time (USA) that day.”

BUT ALSO-ALSO NOTE: THESE DATES ARE TARGETS AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE (this is a test, after all, stuff can go wrong) :)

PlayStation 4:

CLOSED INVITE ONLY: June 17 - June 23 Apply here.
OPEN TO TETRIS EFFECT OWNERS: June 23 - July 5

Epic Games Store:

CLOSED INVITE ONLY: June 17 - June 23 Apply here.
OPEN TO TETRIS EFFECT OWNERS: June 23 - July 5 

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Microsoft Store PC (including Xbox Game Pass):

CLOSED INVITE ONLY: June 17 - June 23 Apply here.
OPEN TO TETRIS EFFECT OWNERS: June 23 - July 5  

Steam: 

CLOSED INVITE ONLY: June 17 - July 5 Apply here.

Oculus Quest: 

CLOSED INVITE ONLY: June 23 - July 5 Apply here.

Key Features:

• Online or Local co-op and competitive play for 1-3 players (1-2 competitive, 1-3 co-op, with CPU players available)
• Ranked and unranked play, matchmaking, and player progression for unlockable avatars
• Cross-play between all Xbox Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows 10 PC
• The entire Tetris Effect single-player game also included
• Smart Delivery means Xbox One owners can upgrade to Xbox Series X any time for free
• Available for sale or via Xbox Game Pass at launch

Development is being handled by the same team of Monstars Inc. and Resonair as the original Tetris Effect, with additional coding and networking help from Tokyo-based Stage Games. Tetris Effect: Connected is optimized native 4K / 60 fps visuals (Xbox Series X and PC versions).

Tetris Effect: Connected is available Oculus Quest, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (Epic Games Store / Microsoft Store), as well as the Xbox Game Pass and Smart Delivery programs, coming to Steam in July 2021.