Theme park attractions at Magic Kingdom. From 1982 to 1995,
Tron was featured in
Disneyland's
PeopleMover attraction, as part of
The World of Tron, in which the light cycle sequence from the film was projected around park guests as their vehicle passed through a tunnel on the upper level of the Carousel Theater, placing the PeopleMover in the role of a light cycle. The attraction was known as PeopleMover Thru the World of
Tron after this sequence was added. From 1977 to 1982, this segment was previously home to the "SuperSpeed Tunnel," in which race cars were projected around the vehicles. In 2010, the
Epcot Monorail on the
Walt Disney World Monorail System received
wrap advertisements featuring blue and yellow light cycles on either side of the train to promote
Tron: Legacy.
ElecTRONica was announced on the Disney Parks Blog for
Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California. Disney's ElecTRONica is an interactive nighttime dance party in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. It is a similar experience to Glow Fest, but with a focus on
Tron: Legacy. ElecTRONica features lights, lasers, music, and projections to promote the film. On October 29, 2010, the nighttime show
World of Color began soft-openings, which included a
Tron: Legacy-themed encore using
Daft Punk's original music from
the soundtrack and new effects and projections on various Paradise Pier attractions. The segment was added on November 1, 2010, and ended on March 23, 2011. ElecTRONica ended on April 15, 2012, and was replaced by
Mad T Party. In 2016, a roller coaster called
Tron Lightcycle Power Run opened in
Shanghai Disneyland. Guests board single-seat
motorbike roller coasters modeled after light cycles and manufactured by
Vekoma. A cloned version of the ride opened at
Magic Kingdom in
Walt Disney World on April 3, 2023.
Novels A novelization of
Tron was released in 1982, written by American science fiction novelist
Brian Daley. It included eight pages of color photographs from the movie. Also that year, Disney Senior Staff Publicist Michael Bonifer authored a book entitled
The Art of Tron which covered aspects of the pre-production and post-production aspects of
Tron. To support the film's release in 1982, Disney also published several books targeting children, including
Tron: A Pop-Up Book,
Tron: The Storybook, and
The Story of Tron, a book and audio combination (with either 33 RPM 7 inch record or audio cassette). A nonfiction book about the making of the original film, called
The Making of Tron: How Tron Changed Visual Effects and Disney Forever was published in 2011 and written by William Kallay. In 2010, to coincide with the release of
Tron: Legacy, a range of new books have been released; including a range of junior novels –
Tron: The Junior Novel by Alice Alfonsi,
Tron: Legacy – Derezzed by James Gelsey,
Tron: Legacy – Out of the Dark by Tennant Redbank, ''Tron: Legacy – It's Your Call: Initiate Sequence
by Carla Jablonski. Additional books include The Art of Tron: Legacy
by Justin Springer, Joseph Kosinski, and Darren Gilford, and Tron Legacy: The Movie Storybook'' by James Ponti.
Comics To support the release of the film in 1982, Disney briefly ran a Sunday comic strip adaptation of the film. It was part of the umbrella series ''
Walt Disney's Treasury of Classic Tales'' and it was written by Jeannette Steiner with art by Richard Moore. In 2003, 88 MPH solicited a miniseries titled
Tron 2.0: Derezzed. This comic was canceled before any issues were released. In 2005,
Slave Labor Graphics announced its six-issue miniseries,
Tron: The Ghost in the Machine. The first issue was released in April 2006, the second issue in November of the same year. The comic book explores the concept of making a backup copy of a User within the computer system, and how that artificial intelligence might be materialized into the real world. The comic book was written by Landry Walker and Eric Jones, with art in the first two issues by Louie De Martinis. The artist on the last three issues was Mike Shoykhet. The comic from Slave Labor Graphics opens with a detailed history of the
Tron universe, providing this previously unseen background on the events that allowed Ed Dillinger and the MCP to rise to power:
Marvel Comics released a two issue miniseries entitled
Tron: Betrayal in October 2010. The story takes place a year after the original film. In January 2011, to coincide with the release of the sequel
Tron: Legacy, Marvel also released a new comic book adaptation of the original 1982 film.
Tron: Original Movie Adaptation was written by
Peter David with art by Mirco Pierfederici. A manga version of
Tron: Legacy was released by
Earth Star Entertainment in Japan on June 30, 2011.
Video games As video games are a key element in the films, various games based on
Tron have been produced over the years.
Atari initially had plans to develop a
Space Paranoids adaptation, but this was canceled due to the
video game crash of 1983. A complete list of the released video games, follows. •
TomyTronic Tron (1981):
Takara Tomy released a tabletop
VFD video game comprising three mini-games based on sequences in the movie, including: light cycles, disc combat (with elements of the movie's "Ring Game"/"Hyperball"), and attacking the MCP. The game predates the release of the movie by about a year.
Grandstand distributed this game in the UK. •
Tron (1982): Developed by
Midway Games as an
arcade game, gameplay consisted of four mini-games based on sequences in the film. This game earned more than the film's initial box office release. •
Tron: Deadly Discs /
Tron: Maze-A-Tron /
Tron: Solar Sailer (1982): Three distinct games, developed by
Mattel Electronics for the
Mattel Intellivision game console.
Deadly Discs was later ported to the
Atari 2600.
Tron: Maze-a-Tron was later released on the Mattel Intellivision and the Atari 2600, with a new title of
Adventures of Tron. A version was also released for the short-lived
Mattel Aquarius home computer. An official joystick resembling the
Tron arcade game joystick was also created as a free giveaway in a special pack that included both Atari 2600
Tron video games. •
TomyTutor Tron (1983): Developed by Tomy, for the
Tomy Tutor home computer. However, the release only had the
Tron moniker in Japan. The game was released stateside with the title,
Hyperspace. •
Discs of Tron (1983): Developed by Midway Games as a sequel to their initial release, the gameplay focuses on the disc-combat from the film. •
Tron 2.0 (2003): A
PC game sequel released for
Windows and
Macintosh. In this
first-person shooter game, the player takes the part of Alan Bradley's son Jet, who is pulled into the computer world to fight a computer virus. A version of this game was later ported to the
Xbox and re-titled,
Tron 2.0 Killer App. It features additional multiplayer modes. An almost completely different game of the same name is also available for the
Game Boy Advance, where Tron and a Light Cycle program named Mercury (first seen in
Tron 2.0 for the PC) fight their way through the ENCOM computer to stop a virus called The Corruptor. This game includes light cycle, battle tank, and recognizer battle modes, several security-related minigames, and the arcade games
Tron and
Discs of Tron. While the Game Boy Advance game is only minimally connected to the PC game, one of the 100 unlockable chips shows a picture of Jet Bradley. •
Virtual Magic Kingdom (2005): Developed by
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and
Sulake Corporation Ltd., and distributed The Walt Disney Company as an
online massive multiplayer game, for Microsoft Windows and
Apple MacOs X PCs. The game includes a room based on
Tron and featuring Recognizers and the Master Control Program (MCP). Multiple furniture items were inspired by elements of the films, with Light Cycle Chairs, Tank Chairs, a
Tron Arcade Game Cabinet, Sark's Red suit, and Tron's Blue suit.
VMK is closed as of May 21, 2008. Popular among fans, players attempted protesting the eventual shutdown of the game.
Virtual Magic Kingdom was officially closed and discontinued on April 7, 2008. •
Kingdom Hearts II (2005): Developed by
Square Enix Product Development Division 1 and distributed by
Square Enix, the game features an
action role-playing genre for the Sony
PlayStation 2. Tron appears in the "Space Paranoids" level of the game, featuring elements from the fictional video game from the movie, alongside other
Tron characters including Commander Sark and the Master Control Program (MCP). The game was later
remastered and
expanded with later editions released on Sony:
PlayStation 3, and
PlayStation 4; and Microsoft: Xbox One game consoles. The game, alongside the various other
Kingdom Hearts games, received critical acclaim. •
Space Paranoids (2009): Developed by 42 Entertainment, a limited number of eight real-life arcade machines based on the games from the original movie, during the 2009
San Diego Comic-Con. The machines were placed in a recreated Flynn's Arcade near the center of the convention. The gameplay includes a goal of defeating levels, while achieving as many points as possible by destroying Recognizers. The maximum number of points a person can achieve is 999 000 pts. This is reference to the score Flynn reached in the film, and is a record currently held by the gamer with the initials FLN. The controls consist of a pilot-like joystick and a ball, which moves the turret and tank. •
Tron: Evolution (2010): Developed by
Propaganda Games and released as a tie-in video game and based on
Tron: Legacy, available on
Microsoft Windows for a PC,
PlayStation 3,
PlayStation Portable, and
Xbox 360 game consoles. The gameplay is an
action adventure genre game, that features a
third person camera perspective, and heavily references the film. The game developers touted that a player of the game would understand the movie on a deeper degree. •
Tron Evolution: Battle Grids (2010): Developed by
n-Space Inc. and distributed by
Disney Interactive Studios, as a
Nintendo exclusive for their
Wii and
DS game consoles. The plot, which takes place before
Legacy, includes a device where the user creates their own 'program' character, who meets and interacts with Quorra and Tron. •
Epic Mickey (2010): Developed by
Junction Point Studios and distributed by Disney Interactive Studios, the title features a
platform gameplay style. Inspired by and based on The Walt Disney Company history, the game features various
Tron elements in its
Tomorrow City level. Spatter enemies wear the red suits of Sark's minions, while one of the robotic Beetleworx of the area has a light cycle-inspired torso. The boss of the level is Petetronic, a version of
Pete in the style of Sark. To beat Petetronic, the player must deflect his disc attacks and change his circuitry colors to blue, which shuts down his villainous coding. The character becomes a Master Control Program, in the alternate ending of the game. The game earned average to good critical reviews. •
Disney Universe (2011): Developed by
Eurocom and distributed by Disney Interactive Studios for the Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360 game consoles, as well as Microsoft Windows for PCs. The title genre, is a
co-operative action-
adventure platform gameplay. Abstract versions of
Tron: Legacy characters appear during the plot.
Disney Universe was met with mixed critical reception. The game was later remastered for the PlayStation 3, and is available via the
PlayStation Store. •
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012): Developed by
Square Enix 1st Production Department and distributed by Square Enix, the title is an action role-playing video game released on the
Nintendo 3DS game console. Elements from the films included in the plot, include a level named The Grid, inspired by and featuring elements from
Tron: Legacy; and features the characters Kevin Flynn, Sam Flynn, Quorra, CLU, Rinzler, and the Black Guards. The game was met with positive critical reception. The game was ported and included in the
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue re-release, as well as the
Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far and the
Kingdom Hearts: All-in-One-Package collection bundles for the Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One game consoles. The game was met with positive critical reception. Despite the game's popularity, Avalanche Software was closed and the franchise ultimately retired on May 11, 2016. •
Tron: RUN/r (2016): Developed by
Sanzaru Games and distributed by Disney Interactive Studios, available on the
Sony PlayStation 4 and
Microsoft Xbox One game consoles, as well as on
Microsoft Windows for a PC. The gameplay genre is an
action-
arcade endless runner game, and was met with mixed critical reception. •
Fortnite Battle Royale (2017): Developed and published by
Epic Games for
PC,
PlayStation 4,
PlayStation 5,
Xbox One,
Xbox Series X/S,
Nintendo Switch,
Nintendo Switch 2, and
Android. The game is part of the
Battle Royale genre. In Chapter 2 – Season 5, multiple
Tron themed cosmetic items were introduced to the game's Item Shop. These included 10 different characters wearing the outfit worn by Grid Warriors in
Tron: Legacy, an Identity Disc Back Bling and Pickaxe, and a Light Cycle glider. The cosmetic items were introduced on February 11, 2021, and could be purchased with V-Bucks, the in-game currency. The characters were brought into the
Fortnite universe by Agent John Jones via the Zero Point, and were recruited to prevent anyone from escaping "The Loop". •
Tron: Identity (2023): Developed by Bithell Games. Described as a
visual novel adventure, the title follows Query, a detective program that must solve an unprecedented crime in The Grid. The game was released in April 2023 on PC and Switch. •
Tron: Catalyst (2025): Developed again by Bithell Games and published by
Big Fan Games (Devolver Digital). An isometric action-adventure game that is a sequel to
Tron: Identity.
Light cycles Light cycles were originally fictional vehicles designed by
Syd Mead for the simulated world of the
Tron universe. Five real-life replica light cycles were created by Parker Brothers Concepts in Florida, one of which was sold by Sotheby's for a reported $77,000. These futuristic two-wheeled vehicles resemble motorcycles and create walls of colored light. The vehicles were primarily used in a competition between humanoid computer programs, similar to the 1976 arcade game
Blockade, which was the first of a genre called
snake. Players are in constant motion on a playfield, creating a wall of light behind them as they move. If players hit a wall, their light cycle explodes, placing them out of the game; the last player in the game wins. Since the original display in
Tron, there have been numerous adaptations, as well as references in popular culture. A light cycle toy, in red and yellow versions, was produced by Tomy as part of the merchandising for the
Tron film, along with action figures scaled to fit inside the toy cycles.
Bootleg versions of Tomy's design were produced by other toy manufacturers that came in a wide variety of colors, including blue and silver, but were noticeably smaller than the Tomy-produced toy, too small in fact to accommodate one of the Tomy action figures. Light cycles make a return in
Tron: Legacy, with new designs by
Daniel Simon. According to the press conference at Comic-Con 2009, a new vehicle appears called a "Light Runner," a two-seat version of the light cycle. It is said to be very fast, and has the unique ability to go off the grid on its own power. We also get a glimpse at Kevin Flynn's own cycle, a "Second Generation Light Cycle" designed in 1989 by Flynn and "rumor has it it's still the fastest thing on the grid." It incorporates some of the look of both films. The video game
Tron: Evolution, which is set between the events of
Tron and
Tron: Legacy, features light cycles in sections of the single-player mode and in certain game maps for the multiplayer mode. Light cycle use in multiplayer gives players the option to shift back and forth between cycle and foot travel at will, and provides multiple attack and defensive options beyond the classic "boxing in" of an opponent. In addition, the light cycles of
Evolution can pass through their own light trails (and the trails of allied players) unharmed. A more classic interpretation of the light cycle game is shown in the video game
Tron: Evolution – Battle Grids, which is primarily based on offline multi- or single-player matches. These light cycle battles do not allow the player to pass through their own trail, but do allow passage through teammates' trails. There is also no option to travel on foot. A
Tron: Legacy themed
Lego Ideas set with two Lightcycles was released in 2018. ==See also==