Kicking off today’s State of Play was an announcement for Lumines Arise, a brand-new entry in the series that started on the PlayStation Portable 20 years ago. Currently in development by Enhance, the team behind Tetris Effect: Connected, Lumines Arise is set to launch in fall 2025 on PlayStation 5 with optional PlayStation VR2 compatibility. For those who are new to the Lumines franchise, Lumines Arise is a puzzle game at its core, but incorporates music and visuals in a mesmerizing way. Some could argue that Tetris Effect’s success came from borrowing some elements from Lumines.
The upcoming title will have over 30 stages, and the developers are working to “hit you right in the feels” with visual flourishes to incite synesthesia. Expect to be transported from lush jungles to oceans teeming with life and even the busy streets of Tokyo. New to Lumines Arise is the Burst feature, which is naturally charged through gameplay. Once it’s ready, players can tap a trigger button to activate Burst, which locks a formed square to the playfield. The goal then is to build as large as they can before time runs out to enjoy screen-clearing combos. Avatars will also be making a return.
As for the soundtrack, it is being composed by Hydelic, who was responsible for Tetris Effect: Connected’s award-winning set. A demo for Lumines Arise is set to arrive this summer, and the team promises to share more about the game leading up to its launch in fall 2025.