The special edition August issue celebrates the much-anticipated return of the Tron series with Tron: Ares this autumn.

Using cutting-edge production technology, the Empire team has created a fully illuminated cover – activated by a push-button powered by a hidden battery pack.

This issue of Empire takes a world-first dive into Tron’s epic return – going on set of Tron: Ares to get up to speed on Light Cycles, identity discs, and rogue AIs. It is also packed with never-before-seen images and insights readers won’t want to miss.

Empire speaks to director Joachim Rønning, original Tron creator Steven Lisberger, and the cast, including Tron OG Jeff Bridges, to find out how the Grid collides with reality this time around, and discover how Hollywood’s most prescient saga is getting even more relevant.

Plus, the magazine sits down for a major interview with Nine Inch Nails – aka Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – as they ready Ares’ industrial soundtrack.

Chris Lupton, Creative Director of Empire commented: “This kind of cover is pure excitement. It’s bold, it’s technical, and it reminds us all that print still has the power to innovate and surprise. In a world where so much of design lives on-screen, seeing something so tactile, physical, and imaginative is inspiring — especially for magazine creatives who live and breathe layout, ink, and production. It really is a glowing example of what can still happen with print!”

Nick de Semlyen, Editor of Empire, added: “Every now and then, an opportunity comes along to push the limits of print. We spotted such a chance with the return of Tron, a movie franchise fuelled by eye-popping, neon-tinged visuals — and couldn’t be happier with our high-impact Tron Ares light-up cover, a perfect fusion of movie and cover treatment, created in collaboration with the filmmakers and Walt Disney Studios. Now, if only we could build our own Light Cycles…”

The newsstand issue is available now in selected WHSmith retailers while stocks last. 

A limited number of light-up covers are also available to purchase online from greatmagazines.co.uk, along with the standard, digital, and the subscription cover version, exclusively illustrated for Empire by Julien Rico Jr.