2025 is a big year for TRON. Not only will October return audiences to the grid with TRON: Ares, but back in June, gamers also got treated to a brand new TRON game, TRON: Catalyst. While Catalyst is an isometric action game (that even lets you cruise around on lightcycles!!!!), it's actually a sequel to the 2023 visual novel TRON: Identity. In the game, players find themselves in the middle of rampant political unrest and a giant conspiracy that threatens the grid...even potentially leading to a devastating crisis. It's up to them to fight their way through the city and save the grid.
AppTrigger was able to speak with creator Mike Bithell to ask about the game's story, it's change from a visual novel to an adventure game, and more. Read on to discover more about TRON: Catalyst from Bithell himself.
AppTrigger: What made you want to continue the Identity storyline?
Mike Bithell: TRON: Identity was always intended as a starting point, a way into the Arq Grid, for TRON fans and general players alike. We started a lot of threads in that game to return to with TRON: Catalyst, and it’s been exciting seeing fans return to that world and re-meet old friends. I’m also seeing folks return to Identity to see some of the backstories and world-building we did there.
What inspired you to change the game from a visual novel?
Bithell: TRON is a world of action, so an action game was the place we knew we’d be landing in TRON: Catalyst. Identity let us establish some of our world-building and focus in on characters and dialogue. It was less a case of changing from one genre to another, and more about each game’s genre serving the story we wanted to tell, and the lens we wanted to present players with into our world.
Can people who didn't play Identity easily pick up Catalyst and enjoy the story?
Bithell: We absolutely built TRON: Catalyst’s story with new players in mind. You might meet some interesting characters you’d like to know more of the backstory for, but we fill you in on the information you need to enjoy this experience in isolation. Ultimately, like all great fictional worlds, TRON: Catalyst is a viable entry, and hints at some other stories you could investigate and explore later.
What inspired the combat mechanic for Catalyst?
Bithell: TRON is filled with exciting verbs, and our goal was to translate those into a modern video game that seamlessly blends together the fantasy of entering the Grid. Disc throws needed to bounce into melee, Light Cycles needed to be accessible at just the right moments, and intrigue and adventure had to permeate the story throughout. Building out our combat was about enabling every action scene you’d seen in the movies, and facilitating a bunch of moves I’d always wanted to try.
Will we get to see more Tron games in the future?
Bithell: TRON is a franchise uniquely suited to video games. We’re proud of the world and stories we’ve set up on the Arq Grid, I’d love to see where TRON goes next.
TRON: Catalyst is available now for PC, PS, Xbox, and Switch.