TRON is easily one of the most recognizable franchises when it comes to defining works of sleek futuristic sci-fi. With its crisp neon aesthetics and philosophical explorations of man and machine, TRON's vision has been etched into the genre and pop culture since the 1982 movie first introduced audiences to it. Through a sequel and additional tie-in material, TRON's world and lore have been filled out and expanded to encompass a vast range of interesting possibilities within its richly realized cyberspace setting.
Last year, Bithell Games, in partnership with Disney, released TRON: Identity. Serving as an original story within the established universe, Identity gave fans a game that paid tribute to the source material while blazing its own road in the IP. Now, the studio is back with an upcoming title being published by Big Fan Games, part of Devolver Digital. For its official unveiling, The Best War Games was present for a session guided by creative director, Mike Bithell. Bithell provided a vertical slice walkthrough discussing designs and highlighting key aspects of what fans can expect from Disney TRON: Catalyst as it takes gamers on another thrilling journey into the Grid.
A third TRON film, set for 2025, has also been previously announced.
Disney TRON: Catalyst Preview: Developer Delves Into its Gameplay, World, and Characters
Disney TRON: Catalyst's Setup
The series' seminal depiction of cyberspace, populated by sentient computer programs forming their own complex societies, is immediately apparent in Disney TRON: Catalyst, and it takes this concept and runs with it. The title will see fans navigate the Arq Grid, a sectioned-off sanctuary for cast-off software first seen in TRON: Identity. Bithell also explained that, since time flows much more quickly within this Grid, this has resulted in a rapidly advanced culture.
Catalyst will have players take on the role of Exo, a program who seeks to take on the overlords of this crumbling Grid, going up against a malevolent agent of CORE named Conn. Exo must explore and fight through the digital landscape, uncovering the mystery of a strange "Glitch" that threatens the Grid while overcoming a range of obstacles and dangers that dwell within. Bithell noted that the slice shown off took place about one hour into the story, where Exo is on a mission to find a particular program avatar that can help her gain access to restricted areas.
Disney TRON: Catalyst's Core Loops and Mechanics
Whereas TRON: Identity is a visual novel, Disney TRON: Catalyst is a third-person isometric action title. The demo led off with a combat section, featuring the stylishly iconic Light Disc as Exo's main weapon, capable of an array of ranged and melee attacks. By making use of parrying, dodging, overcharging the disc and even kicking it back at enemies, players can perform a flashy choreography of combos, giving the fights a satisfying flow. Bithell described how the studio looked to include a good sense of pacing and pauses between impactful encounters and more reserved plot beats.
Another of Catalyst's major features will be a Groundhog Day-like loop mechanic, where players will restart and replay sequences but keep any unlocks, upgrades, and story-relevant information to progress. In the demo, in order to proceed, Exo must have her Identity Disc altered to allow entrance to a cordoned off section, requiring seeking out a specialist NPC. After achieving this, players will need to reset the level, this time being able to stroll right into a previously blocked building.
These loops aim to organically incorporate multiple treks through levels, with the narrative connecting to and providing reasons for doing so. While reminiscent of Metroidvanias, Bithell pointed out that Disney TRON: Catalyst is not necessarily attempting to replicate all the elements of that genre. The idea was described as Exo "unlocking god mode" as she gains more insight and control over the functions of the Grid.
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World Building and Level Design in Disney TRON: Catalyst
The above "iterative exploration" will be a significant part of Disney TRON: Catalyst's experience, and Bithell elaborated on how this played into the look and feel of its levels. There is a "multi-directionality" to the world, including layers of verticality that showcase the possibilities of each unique locale within the Arq Grid. Exo can open up shortcuts through various sections and find hidden collectibles and optional encounters, increasing her knowledge and mastery along the way. In order to travel through the Grid, fans will make use of TRON's famous Lightcycle, which can be summoned near-instantly to zip through the neon-lit streets, and looks both practical and fun to control.
The title also aims to play with reactivity and perspective in other ways, via conversations with NPCs that will evolve and morph as players dig deeper, all while maintaining its strong story-driven focus. Fans will see some returning characters, like Query from TRON: Identity, along with a host of new faces. They will engage with text-based dialogues that allow for smaller branching responses and choice of tone for Exo.
One notable change from Identity, though, is that larger story moments are now fully voiced. All of these are intended to provide a believable series of slice of life interactions, giving players a sense of "virtual tourism" through the various hubs that gradually expand, with architecture and NPCs reacting accordingly and sometimes unexpectedly.
Disney TRON: Catalyst Will Accommodate All Ranges of Fans
Bithell expressed his personal love and admiration for the TRON franchise and its contributions to informing design, stating that it consists of a "world of good videogame verbs" that helps sharpen the sense of presence and fluidity the studio imparted into the world. When asked about how much previous familiarity Disney TRON: Catalyst will require, Bithell pointed out that while aspects are certainly there for those who are knowledgeable about the IP, no specific prior information is needed to understand and enjoy Catalyst. The title will be welcoming to all audiences, serving as a gateway for newcomers while staying true to the fundamentals. Based on this demo, Catalyst promises an intelligent and action-packed adventure that will utilize TRON's strengths and Bithell Games' expertise to deliver a refreshing and rewarding modern title.
Disney TRON: Catalyst launches on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch in 2025.