Tetris Effect: Connected for PS4, Epic Games Store, Steam, and Oculus Quest launches August 18
Steam version to launch with 25 percent-off discount.
Tetris Effect for PlayStation 4, Epic Games Store, and Oculus Quest will become Tetris Effect: Connected via a free update, as well as launch via Steam for the first time on August 18, developer Enhance Games announced.
The Steam version will launch with a 25 percent-off discount price for the first two weeks of release, as well as include the following “Digital Deluxe Downloadable Content” at no extra charge:
- A seven-track soundtrack sampler by Hydelic, including the fan-favorite song “Connected (Yours Forever)” (previously only available for a limited time on PlayStation 4 and Epic Games as pre-order bonuses).
- Eleven Tetris Effect-themed 4k PC desktop wallpapers.
- Seven Tetris Effect profile avatars.
The existing Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Microsoft Store versions of Tetris Effect: Connected will also be updated with cross-platform multiplayer.
Here is a full overview of the August 18 update:
Update Outline
- Cross-platform play between all current versions of the game (Steam, PlayStation 4, Epic Games Store, Oculus Quest, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Microsoft Store PC, including Xbox Game Pass).
- Bonus features include a new Spectator Mode, as well as PAL and “Slow” speed modes, coming to all versions of the game.
New performance or fidelity graphic options to boost resolution for Oculus Quest 2 headsets.- Remote Play available on the PlayStation 4 version.
- Skill Rating (SR) reset in all versions of the game to re-calibrate matchmaking between similarly-skilled players (FYI current SR will be immortalized on the game’s website).
- An explainer video covering everything in this release can be found here, courtesy of beloved Tetris YouTuber aGameScout.
Cross-Platform Play
Furthering the game’s goal of bringing people together in cooperation and competition, the Tetris Effect: Connected update will allow Friend Match players to invite owners of the game on other platforms to all play together, via a simple, shareable four-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.)
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.
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.)
Bonus Features
- Spectator Mode (Friend Matches Only) – The Tetris Effect community’s number one most-requested feature! Between four and six 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, slower Line Clear speeds 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.