Tetris 99, the online Switch phenomenon, has gotten its very first paid DLC, which is focused entirely on offline modes. Thanks to dataminers, we’ve known for a while that more modes are coming, but now they’re actually available. Two new modes are available right now: CPU Battle and Marathon. A third will follow at a later date. Watch on YouTube Marathon Mode is the Tetris you know and love. You set a speed, you drop blocks, and things speed up as you score points until eventually you can play no more. It’s classic Tetris. CPU Battle is, effectively, a practice mode for Tetris 99’s online multiplayer. You can take on 98 CPU opponents and hone your skills without needing to worry about all of the other online players ganging up on you. Pair this with our tips and tricks for the game and you’ll have a strong shot at that number 1 slot. The DLC carries a US$9.99 (or your regional equivalent) price tag and is available now. In other Tetris 99 news, the third Tetris 99 Grand Prix, the Maximus Cup, begins on May 17. If you earn 100 points between May 17 and 20, you’ll unlock the Game Boy Tetris skin, which is a lovely retro throwback. Screenshot of the Tetris 99 Game Boy theme pic.twitter.com/REZhw0uurx — Wario64 (@Wario64) May 10, 2019 Because these modes are offline, they are available to users without a Nintendo Online subscription as well. The base, online version of Tetris 99 remains free.<doc-sep>“Tetris 99” players have a new DLC which includes two new offline modes and soon the return of the Maximus Cup to enjoy, Nintendo announced via a press release Thursday. The Big Block DLC for “Tetris 99” is a one-time purchase of $9.99, which includes two new modes that can be enjoyed offline: CPU Battle and Marathon. CPU Battle plays similarly to the “Tetris 99” game, except instead of competing against 98 real, human players online, CPU Battle pits the user against 98 CPU opponents so that it can be played when the Nintendo Switch console is not connected to the internet. The Marathon mode has players challenging themselves to get a higher and higher score in this ongoing mode. Nintendo The original, online mode of “Tetris 99” can be played by those who have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Now, players not interested in buying a Nintendo Online Membership will be able to enjoy “Tetris 99” with the one-time DLC purchase. Nintendo also announced the return of its free event, the Maximus Cup. The “Tetris 99” third Maximus Cup is taking place May 17 at 12 a.m. PT, until May 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Players who collect at least 100 points within the three-day period will unlock an in-game theme which is retro-inspired: a theme based on the original Game Boy “Tetris.” The higher players place, the more points earned. Here’s the points breakdown for placing in the competition: Placement Points 1st 100 2nd 50 3rd 30 4th – 10th 20 11th – 30th 10 31st – 50th 5 51st – 80th 2 81st – 99th 0 So, if you don’t win at first, keep trying, as players in the top 80 in a match will at least earn some points. Participation in the Maximus Cup requires a Nintendo Online Membership, because players will compete against other players. The Big Block DLC for “Tetris 99” is available now via the Nintendo eShop.<doc-sep>There's a new 'Big Block' DLC out for Tetris 99, adding two new modes to the popular Nintendo Switch title and offering support for offline play for the first time. Yours for $9.99 / £8.99 / AU$15, the add-on unlocks the CPU Battle and Marathon modes to add some variety to your block-building experience. Both modes support offline play. CPU Battle pits you against 98 other virtual opponents rather than real ones, while Marathon is exactly that – clear as many lines of blocks as you can in however long it takes. The new paid-for pack means you no longer need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to be able to play Tetris 99: you can just pay for this pack instead. More to come Nintendo is promising more to come, as well. It says "an additional offline multiplayer mode will also arrive later this year as part of the Big Block DLC", with details to follow. Based on earlier rumors, that extra offline mode could be called Team Battle, and involve two teams of players going head to head. At the same time as revealing the Big Block DLC, Nintendo also announced details of the third Maximus Cup event. It starts on May 17, and if you earn more than 100 event points during the three-day event, you'll unlock a Game Boy-inspired theme. As usual you need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription in order to compete. More details are available on the Tetris 99 site.<doc-sep>
The popular free-to-play Nintendo Switch game Tetris 99 is expanding. A new paid DLC, Big Block, is available today, and it adds multiple offline modes and more. The $10 Big Block DLC adds the following modes: CPU Battle -- Lets you play offline against 98 CPU opponents. Marathon -- Clear as many lines as you can. The #Tetris99 Big Block DLC is available on Nintendo eShop for $9.99 and adds offline modes! Battle 98 bots in CPU Battle, and survive in Marathon mode to clear the most lines possible! Stay tuned for more on additional upcoming game modes. https://t.co/t6cp0KnJLT pic.twitter.com/VKvai3xRCe — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 10, 2019 These modes are playable offline, and that's notable because the main Tetris 99 experience is an online-only game. It also means that you no longer need to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play Tetris 99 (if you buy the $10 DLC). Nintendo also announced more details on the next Maximum Cup online event for Tetris 99. Maximus Cup 3 begins May 17, and just like the previous ones, you get points for the matches you play regardless of how you finish. Those who get 100 points or more will receive a new theme modeled after the original Game Boy. The event runs until May 19 at 11:59 PM PT. Nintendo teased that it will announce even more new modes for Tetris 99 at a later date. Tetris 99 has been very successful. Just this week, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa talked about how the game has "helped maintain Nintendo Switch engagement" and also get more people to sign up for Nintendo Switch Online.