SALT LAKE CITY — If you bought into “Tetris 99” but were disappointed by the lack of anything but a fiery battle royale mode, you’re in luck.
According to Polygon, Nintendo pushed a new update for the online "Tetris" game that adds offline modes. The Big Block update costs $9.99, but gives users access to all future additions for the game, which will be announced at a later time.
The new modes added to the game include Offline and Marathon — the first follows the same formula as the main game, but features 98 CPU-controlled opponents. Marathon, on the other hand, is the bread and butter for "Tetris" players: It’s a solo mode challenging players to clear as many lines as possible before running out of time.
Nintendo also announced the three-day Maximus Cup competition, which grants points based on performance. The event starts on May 17 at 12 a.m. and ends on May 19 at 11:59 p.m. Players who score 100 points total will win a theme based on the original "Tetris" for Game Boy.
“Tetris 99’s” free online battle royale mode pits 99 players against each other in a free-for-all "Tetris" battle and requires a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, which costs $19.99 a year for an individual membership and $34.99 for a family group. According to Kellen Beck from Mashable, the game is really hard and pits you against other "Tetris" players who have mastered their art.
But, hey. Mileage may vary based on your personal skill.
Nintendo also recently announced its plans for E3 in June. According to GameSpot, the company will release a Nintendo Direct presentation detailing new games coming throughout 2019 on June 11 at 10 a.m. MT. Nintendo will also hold “Splatoon 2” and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” competitions on June 8 starting at 12 p.m. MT.