You’ve never played a game like this before; here’s everything you need to know

You did watch our Tetris Effect announce trailer as part of the PlayStation Pre-E3 Countdown, right? Well, just in case, or if you want to see it again, check it out above. I’ll wait.

Okay? OKAY! Hopefully you liked what you saw, but there are a few things you might have missed:

1. Tetris Effect is coming to PS4 with optional PS VR support this autumn

Hopefully you at least caught this much! Tetris Effect is a brand new take on the legendary puzzle game coming to PS4 this fall (with optional support for PSVR as well), developed by a lot of the same folks that worked with me to make Rez Infinite and Lumines.

So what’s it like? Well a big hint is in the name itself; if you Google “Tetris Effect research” you’ll discover it’s not just our game title but also a well-known phenomenon proven by many academic studies, which leads to my next point:

2. Tetris Effect is designed to maximize the magical, scientifically-proven aspect of Tetris that it’s named after

That’s right, the Harvard study mentioned in the trailer voiceover is 100% real! Basically, researchers discovered that people who play Tetris a lot can start seeing images from the game in real life.

Maybe you’ve even experienced this yourself after playing previous Tetris games (I know I have): you see a bunch of bricks or crates stacked and unconsciously start imagining how to move them to fit together and “clear” them. Or while you stare at the ceiling about to fall asleep, you “see” those iconic Tetris shapes falling in your mind’s eye. That’s what researchers call the Tetris Effect.

The idea behind Tetris Effect the game is to amplify and enhance that same magical feeling where you just can’t get it out of your head, and not just the falling shapes, but all the visuals, the sounds, the music – everything!

How? By having each of more than 30 stages immerse you in a different fantastical world that reacts and evolves based on how you play: background elements, audio, special effects – everything, down to the Tetris pieces themselves, pulse, dance, shimmer, make music, explode, etc. in perfect sync with how you’re playing.

Hopefully our trailer gives a glimpse of what this looks and sounds like, but to really feel what it’s like it you just have to try it yourself. Speaking of the trailer…

3. The entire trailer was made with in-game assets

This isn’t a CG trailer of things unrelated to the actual game. Everything from this trailer was taken directly from the in-game assets: models, effects, animations, backgrounds, you name it. Even the Tetris Matrix and blocks at the end were captured from the game being played in real time!

Of course we made some adjustments for the sake of the trailer (layered different stages at once, removed UI, reflected elements, etc.), but needless to say if you like what you saw here, you will love this game, whether on a standard display in beautiful full HD on PS4, or at 4K/60 frames-per-second on a PS4 Pro, or in mind-blowing 3D thanks to the optional PSVR compatibility.

4. Tetris Effect is both the hyper-addictive puzzler you know and love, and at the same time unlike any Tetris – or any other game – you’ve ever seen before

From deep beneath the ocean to the furthest reaches of outer space, Tetris Effect’s 30-plus stages are more than just backdrops; together with music, characters, and animations tailor-made for each level and triggered by your actions, they’re all meant to make you feel something—to convey a mood, or even provoke an emotional response.

If this all sounds a bit ambitious or silly for this type of game, check out some reviews and social media posts about our most recent PS4 / PSVR-optional title, Rez Infinite. When it comes down to it, the core of Tetris Effect is still Tetris—one of the most popular puzzle games of all time—but like you’ve ever seen it, or heard it, or felt it before.

5. There’s a lot more to come!

There’s a lot more Tetris Effect to show and talk about, both at E3 next week (a playable demo on the show floor and more to show the media behind closed doors) and through the summer, leading up to our Fall launch.

Stuff like returning Tetris modes (Marathon, Ultra, Sprint), plus other original modes just for this game, and our all-new “Zone” mechanic, where players can stop time (and Tetriminos falling) by entering “the Zone” and either maneuver out of a potential game-over situation, or rack up extra line clears for bonus rewards.

Watch your favourite media outlets for more details and hands-on coverage, or try the game yourself if you can make it to the show!

And for the 99% of you who can’t make it to E3, don’t worry; like I said we know full well that the best way to understand Tetris Effect is to play it yourself, so we’re working on a plan that will let you do just that. Follow us on Twitter @enhance_exp or watch PlayStation Blog for news on a public Tetris Effect demo as we get closer to launch.

In the meantime, sound off in the comments and tell us what you thought of the trailer! Have you ever seen Tetris blocks outside of the game yourself? Other favourite Tetris memory? Or maybe you’re new to Tetris and looking for a first game to play? We want to hear from all of you!