'Tron: Ares' Mode Turns Teslas Into Glowing Light Cycles — Despite Bad Box Office (thewrap.com)
- Reference: 0179758514
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/10/12/0048226/tron-ares-mode-turns-teslas-into-glowing-light-cycles-despite-bad-box-office
- Source link: https://www.thewrap.com/tron-ares-mode-turns-teslas-into-glowing-light-cycles/
> Tesla this weekend introduced a new "Tron: Ares" mode, giving drivers an opportunity to turn their on-screen vehicles into the glowing Light Cycles that have been a big part of the Disney franchise since 1982.
>
> The [2]optional update started rolling out on Friday, as Tron: Ares debuted in theaters. Tesla announced the update [3]on X : "The grid has expanded to your Tesla — Tron: Ares update rolling out now." The feature is activated in Tesla's Toybox "infotainment" system, and turns the driver's vehicle avatar into a red Light Cycle. For drivers who have the "ambient lighting" feature, the mode will also expand the theme throughout the cabin.
There was also a [4]sleek black Tesla Optimus robot at the premier of Tron: Ares .
Ironically, the Hollywood Reporter writes that by box office figures, "Tron is in big trouble," selling fewer tickets than expected (despite the movie's $180 million pre-marketing budget). While Tron's audience reviews gave it an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, its [5]score with critics is just 57% .
The Los Angeles Times says the movie "has glowing style, [6]but its storytelling doesn't compute ." (Or, as the New York Times puts it, " [7]Who needs logic when you have neon ?")
[1] https://www.thewrap.com/tron-ares-mode-turns-teslas-into-glowing-light-cycles/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jm95xz0Q3I
[3] https://x.com/Tesla/status/1976641367183917389
[4] https://youtube.com/shorts/GD5jvwaMHjw?si=hhDdLsPsZHDMg6_Q
[5] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tron_ares
[6] https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-10-09/tron-ares-review-jared-leto-greta-lee-joachim-ronning-disney
[7] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/movies/tron-ares-review.html
Turn Teslas into light cycles (Score:3)
can they instantly turn 90 degrees?
That would be cool in traffic
Honest, in a sense. (Score:2)
It's stupid; but at least more honest than trying to dress 'grok' up as the master control computer.
Re: (Score:2)
grok? old enough to remember when grok was just a chess program.
Re: (Score:3)
I'm old enough to remember when Humans borrowed the term from its original Martian.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm not sure I completely understand you.
Re: (Score:2)
Time to start visiting the Church of All Worlds!
Re: (Score:2)
I'm old enough to remember when Tron was the most installed operating systems in the world ('80s). If a device or vehicle at the time had an embedded operating system it was probably Tron-based. Pretty much forgotten now.
Car industry introduces microtransactions - SKINS! (Score:2)
The first of many car industry 'improvements' of the car as a subscription platform, instead of a car.
People don't get it. (Score:1)
People don't get it: Tron is like Burning Man or Meow Wolf - it's clearly not intended to be experienced sober.
Re: (Score:2)
I will say, Tron 2 was an incredible experience on lsd
The plot was never the point for Tron movies (Score:2)
All the Tron movies had a very thin plot. The plot wasn't the point. It was more of an excuse for fancy special effects. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because the effects *are* pretty cool.
It's kind of like how the plot of musicals is usually just enough to justify a bunch of singing and dancing, yet lots of people love musicals.
Critics vs. regular people (Score:2)
Critics are always looking for deeper meaning, subplots, unexpected plot twists, and philosophical integrity. Regular people usually just want to see a fun movie. The two goals are very different, so it's not surprising that regular people rated this movie much more highly than critics.
Re: (Score:2)
There must not be many regular people left then, judging by the success rate of Disney movies in the past 10-15 years.
Product placement (Score:2)
I wonder which company paid for product placement. Did Tesla pay Disney for the name "Tron Ares Mode"? Or did Disney pay Tesla to help advertise their struggling movie?
Re: Product placement (Score:2)
Jared Leto just makes us pay and pay and pay with his⦠acting.
The agreement was made before the movie bombed (Score:2)
Is not like Tesla can renege on the contract with a studio as small as disney, you know?
That would lead to very bad press.
Deceptive headline (Score:2)
It seems most people posting her are Tron fans talking about the movie.
I haven't seen anyone comment on the headline. No, Tron Ares Mode does not turn Teslas into glowing light-cycles. It changes the avatar for the vehicle displayed on the infotainment screen. At least TFS got that right.
Re: Deceptive headline (Score:2)
Was there something else to be said more directly than what you just did? Surely you're not upbraiding us for failing to move toward the usual "Disney is too woke"/"Elon is a piece of crap" or their opposites fast enough?
Re: (Score:3)
Tron isn't in Tron 3... clearly the fight was lost.
Re: Be like Tron. (Score:2)
But what was really missing was music. Mr. Resnor added pretty much nothing to this outing. In some ways he made it worse- in one of the few scenes that maybe should make reference to an iconic earlier theme, he instead opted for something that sounded like a riff on a Zelda fairy visit. As if to exacerbate the problem, you find out while watching the credits it has inane lyrics if let play for more than 5 seconds
now to fight for disenys pocket book! (Score:2)
now to fight for Disenys pocket book!
Re: (Score:2)
> now to fight for Disenys pocket book!
And that might be the crux of the problem. Bad enough to shill for Tesla given Musk, worse with the recent situation with ABC bowing to pressure on Jimmy Kimmel. Remember, that suspension was literally only three weeks ago. Those who canceled subscriptions are unlikely to go see it, it would come as no surprise if even those who weren't prepared to cancel subscriptions would simply shrug off purposely going to it, and given the extremely long time between movies it's not like they're particularly fresh i