When I heard that Disney was bringing Tron back to the screen as Tron: Legacy back in 2010, I was curious. Surely it was going to be a huge flop and wouldn’t be as cool as the original? Well, I was wrong; I loved everything about it especially the Daft Punk Soundtrack and the epic Light Cycle chases. Heading back to The Grid with Jeff Bridges once more felt brilliant, but I wanted more, and with Tron: Ares being cancelled in 2015, it felt like I’d had my fill.
Now that Disney has picked up the idea again with new characters and a new premise for a release in 2025 with Jared Leto as the main character, it seems like the right time to strike with a new Tron game to get everyone back in the mood for Disc Battles once more.
Tron: Catalyst is set to be a ‘thrilling, story-driven game’ that, as the trailer shows, is based on an isometric viewpoint. It instantly feels like I’m playing Hades but with Light Cycles, which I suppose isn’t a bad thing at all. The top-down viewpoint gives the game a retro Final Fantasy vibe too which definitely appeals to us, and Devolver Digital’s Big Fan Games, Bithell Games, and Disney Games will all be hoping for big things from the new release.
Certain elements of the story continue on from the visual puzzle novel game ‘Tron: Identity’. In Catalyst, players become acquainted with a time-loop program called Exo that will help them take on Grid Overlords and avoid a CORE Agent called Conn. There’s a Glitch in the Grid which needs to be explained and fixed, and you’ll find answers on foot, on Light Cycle, and while battling enemies through in the trademark neon colours of The Grid.
It’s the stuff that Sci-Fi dreams are made of and sounds like it could be a winner. I’m not sure how much of the game will be Light Cycle battles versus exploration yet, but the levels look pretty big with lots to uncover, so I’m hoping for an engaging title that has a long playtime for fans to get stuck into!
The new game is set to drop in 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam, & Switch, though a more specific date has not been confirmed yet. It looks like an interesting adventure through familiar territory for Tron fans with a retro viewpoint that compliments the series’ roots. It’s certainly a game I could see myself playing on Switch, and I’m looking forward to seeing some more footage as the months go on. 2025 isn’t that far away now, and as soon as I hear more information you guys will be the first to know.
