TRON 2.0 Bug Fixes | Widescreen | Multiplayer

In its original state, this game is a bit outdated. It doesn't support widescreen, multiplayer is broken and it has some bugs. These are the steps to get it running in your favorite resolution, with widescreen support. You can also play with others online! :-)

TRON 2.0

Except for the TRON.exe and Steam screenshot issues - which are unique to the Steam version of the game - all the other advice in this guide also applies to the Retail CD/DVD and GOG.com versions of TRON 2.0.

Guide to Widescreen and Multiplayer, other add-ons

Before you begin, INSTALL THE GAME AND RUN IT AT LEAST ONCE via Steam. If the game won't start, see the Bugs and Fixes section below.

TRON 2.0 will work on Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP (both 32-bit and 64-bit in all cases).

• Step 1: Install the Unofficial v1.042 patch.

  Although TRON 2.0 already has the official patch included, this unofficial patch fixes a few more bugs, and is required in preparation to further enhance the game.
  
  You can get the unofficial patch here - just install it:
  https://tron.hirnschwund.net/patches/tron-update_v1x042ceng.exe
  
  If you see this error:
  
  
  It's because you haven't run the game at least once before trying to install the patch. (You just need to reach the main menu screen and quit. It's not necessary to play the game.)
  
  
  

• Step 2: Install the Killer App Mod.

  Killer App Mod v1.1a has just been released. It fixes a lot of bugs in the game, adds widescreen, makes the Steam version ready for online multiplayer and includes more characters from the Xbox version.
  
  Get it here and install it:
  https://tron.hirnschwund.net/patches/ka_mod_v1x1a_sfx.exe
  
  That's all you had to do. Enjoy the game!
  
  Screenshot of TRON 2.0 on Windows 11 2023 Update (released October 10, 2023)
  
  
  Video demoing installation steps
  
  
  
  
  

• OPTIONAL: Install the map pack.

  If you want to play multiplayer on all servers out there, you may need to install the map pack. Over the years, many talented artists created maps that are much better than the few converted singleplayer-maps in the original game.
  
  You can find the map pack here:
  https://tron.hirnschwund.net/patches/tron20_maps_02.21.2013_setup.exe
  
  You can always see if someone's playing in-game or on http://tron.hirnschwund.net :-)
  
  
  

• OPTIONAL: Install User Error 1 and 2 Single Player campaigns.

  Once you're done with TRON 2.0's Single Player, there are two more fan-made missions you can play. (With a third and final mission currently in production.)
  
  Download them from here (they're both in one self-extracting file):
  http://tronfaq.blogspot.com/2006/02/all-tron-20-files-in-one-place.html#usererror
  
  It's recommended to finish playing TRON 2.0 first, install User Error 1 and play it to the end, then install User Error 2 and play that. If you want to change back to the original TRON 2.0 Single Player, or switch between User Error missions:
  
  
  
• Click Play in Steam.
  
• Click the Custom button on the TRON launcher.
  
  
  
• Place an X in the box beside Retail to return to the original Single Player or
  
• Place an X in the box beside one of the UserError missions to switch between them.
  
• Click OK.
  
  Note that selecting any of the User Error mods will prevent you from playing multiplayer online until you select Retail again.
  
  Installing User Error will change some weapons to purple, to match the new protagonist's color scheme in User Error. To undo the change, simply uninstall both User Error missions or use the Killer App Mod Manager program to change the weapons back to the normal blue.

Bugs and Fixes

• My anti-virus says TRON.exe (or another file) is infected, or I'm getting a "Missing shell DLL cshell.dll" error when I try to play the game.

  Read this forum post for a more in-depth explanation:
  http://steamcommunity.com/app/327740/discussions/0/617321352158607162/#c617321352200921669
  
  But the short answer is that your anti-virus is falsely flagging files downloaded through Steam as being infected, due to the Steam DRM applied to those files. Either create an exception in your anti-virus to stop flagging a file, or download the Unofficial Patch and install it, to solve this issue:
  https://tron.hirnschwund.net/patches/tron-update_v1x042ceng.exe
  
  
  

• Steam takes a screenshot every time I crouch or jump.

  This is a Steam bug, and happens with or without any patches or mods.
  
  To stop Steam from doing this:
  
  
  Open the Steam menu in the game client and select Settings.
  
  
  
• Select In-Game on the left side.
  
• Click inside the Screenshot shortcut keys box, and press different key(s) for taking a screenshot.
  
  If that still doesn't help, you can disable screenshots by either:
  
  
• Clicking the X in the box to remove the screenshot key(s).
  
• Or remove the checkmark in the Enable the Steam overlay while in-game box.
  
• Click OK.
  
  
  

• When the game starts, all I see is a black screen.

  To fix this issue:
  
  
  Use the Steam client to open your TRON 2.0 folder in the Windows File Explorer.
  
  
• Right-click Tron 2.0 in your Steam Games Library.
  
• Click Properties on the menu.
  
• Click the Local Files tab.
  
• Click the Browse Local Files button.
  
• Right-click Lithtech.exe in the Tron 2.0 folder and choose Properties from the menu.
  
  
• Click the Compatibility tab.
  
• Put a checkmark in the box beside Disable desktop composition. (Do the same for Run this program as an administrator if it's not already checked.)
  
• Click OK.
  
  This should only be necessary for some, on Windows Vista and 7. It will disable Aero Glass while the game is running. (Windows 11/10/8 removed the Aero Glass feature.)
  
  
  

• I can't get the Killer App Mod to install, it either hangs/freezes or tells me I don't have enough disk space.

  If the installer hangs during installation of the mod, visit this page for advice:
  http://tronfaq.blogspot.com/2010/11/tron-20-killer-app-mod-help-and.html#safemode
  
  If the installer gives you a Not enough disk space error, visit here for advice:
  http://tronfaq.blogspot.com/2010/11/tron-20-killer-app-mod-help-and.html#freespace
  
  
  

• I installed Killer App Mod to use widescreen, but the resolution has lowered itself or the image is stretched and parts of the HUD are off-screen.

  If the resolution has lowered:
  
  
• Click Play in Steam.
  
• Click the Display button on the TRON launcher.
  
  
  The Killer App Mod uses a modified launcher, that allows selecting non-4:3 resolutions outside of the game. Choose your resolution and click OK.
  
  Do not touch the Options > Display resolution options inside the game. It will cause the resolution to reset to a 4:3 aspect ratio again. This is something that will be addressed in the next version of the mod.
  
  If the image is stretched or parts of the HUD are off-screen:
  This is often because a patch or other unexpected add-on was installed after the Killer App Mod, reverting some of the changes.
  
  
  
• Hold down the Windows and R keys at the Windows desktop. A window titled Run should appear.
  
• Type regedit and press Enter.
  
• Navigate to the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Wow6432Node > Monolith Productions > Tron 2.0 > 1.0 as shown in the screenshot.
  
• Right-click UpdateNum and choose Modify from the menu.
  
• Change Value data to 5 and click OK.
  
  

  Another reason for a lower resolution, stretched image, or missing HUD elements while playing with the Killer App Mod, is after moving to another computer and downloading Steam Cloud files. DO NOT download TRON 2.0 Cloud files when moving to another computer.

  
  
  

• I don't see a cursor on the screen, when I'm playing the game.

  
  
• Click Play in Steam.
  
• Click the Options button on the TRON launcher.
  
  
  
• Change Disable Hardware Cursor to the opposite state that it's currently in (either add an X in the box or remove it).
  
• Click OK.
  
  
  

• I have no sound or speech in-game.

  Please read this forum post for sound troubleshooting tips:
  https://steamcommunity.com/app/327740/discussions/0/613938693156272172/?ctp=13#c3767860082239709586
  
  
  

• If you have any other issues not listed here.

  Try reading this troubleshooting guide:
  http://tronfaq.blogspot.com/2010/11/tron-20-killer-app-mod-help-and.html

Follow for Updates

http://steamcommunity.com/id/schmatzler/myworkshopfiles/?section=guides

http://steamcommunity.com/id/LDSO/myworkshopfiles/?section=guides

Thank you for checking out our TRON 2.0 guide, hope it's been helpful!

Please click the links above and follow our guide pages if you wish to keep up with updates to this, or any of the other TRON game guides we've contributed to!

[LDSO]

@F4lc0n @Penny @KenTWOu I've finished investigating, and was able to reproduce the issue. It does appear that Valve has made a change to how the Steam client operates.

When the Steam client hangs at launch, and shows the spinning circle around the Steam logo, the temporary solution for this is to exit Steam and delete the appinfo.vdf file in the appcache folder.

Default location: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\appcache\appinfo.vdf"

Obviously, this situation isn't acceptable. I'll have to release an emergency update to the Killer App Mod, in order to fix it. I hope to have it done no later than the end of March.

[F4lc0n]

Can confirm that the Killer App mod breaks the steam client and deleting the appinfo.vdf restored it again.

[LDSO]

@Penny I'm still investigating what's going on exactly, but I believe that deleting just the appinfo.vdf file in the appcache folder after installing the mod, will fix this issue both you and KenTWOu had. The Steam client will create a fresh new version of the file.

[Penny]

Same thing happened to me. The Killer App mod installation broke my steam client. Would only show a rotating Steam icon. So i had to delete all folders and files bar steam executable and my steamapps to fix

[LDSO]

@KenTWOu Thank you for letting me know about your experience, and I'm sorry you ran into trouble. Will check if Valve has made any changes to the Steam client, that could affect how the mod installs.

[KenTWOu]

Killer App mod installation somehow broke my Steam client. I had it in Small mode and Steam couldn't open my library showing rotating Steam waiting icon inside my library window instead. Deleting appcache and/or steamui folder inside Steam folder fixed the issue.

[LDSO]

@ME!ME!ME! During mod installation, you should only have been able to select 16:9 and 1920x1080, or 16:10 and 1920x1200. 1920x1080 isn't a 16:10 aspect ratio resolution.

If the resolution you chose has somehow changed, the easiest way to set a resolution that matches the aspect ratio is to use the TRON 2.0 game launcher and click the Display button.

What's the exact issue you're having with the TRON 2.0 launcher? (Not TronLauncher.exe, but TRON.exe which is the actual proper launcher.) You say you can't open it, but do you perhaps mean the launcher crashes when you click the Display button? If that's happening, check out a few comments below where I reply to Zyri. I explain in my reply how to prevent the launcher from crashing.

Also, a reminder that you can see black bars on the game menu screens and cutscenes, but this is by design. During actual first-person gameplay, you should not be seeing black bars unless the resolution selected doesn't match your display's aspect ratio.

[ME!ME!ME!]

Hello, I still get black bars during gameplay. I cant open the TRON 2.0 game launcher by clicking the Display button but I remenber that I selected during the install 16:10 and 1920x1080 just like my current screen specs.

[LDSO]

@xX_Yeenidae_Xx I think I saw you post the same question on Reddit, but you added a bit more detail (mentioning that you do have the Killer App Mod installed).

If I'm understanding your question correctly: If you chose the appropriate aspect ratio (16:9, 16:10, etc.) and resolution that matches your screen during installation of the mod, you can check if that resolution is still selected in the TRON 2.0 game launcher by clicking the Display button.

If the correct aspect ratio and resolution were chosen, then if you're seeing any black bars: those are intentional and only in menu screens (to keep them looking correct) and during cutscenes (by design and so you can read subtitles more easily).

During actual gameplay there should be no black bars and the entire screen should be filled.

[xX_Yeenidae_Xx]

Is there a way to make the game full screen?