"Lego" announces a revolution: a system that brings bricks to life without smartphones has been presented. Here's how it works and how much it costs
The company "Lego" has presented a new platform, Lego Smart Play, which the manufacturer calls the most significant innovation since the introduction of the minifigure in 1978. This is a new ecosystem that transforms construction sets into interactive toys capable of reacting to a child's actions in real-time. The main feature of the technology is a complete rejection of smartphone screens during play: all the "magic" happens within the bricks. They will be on sale starting in March, with neighboring Poland among the pilot countries.
Tom Donaldson with Lego Smart Play at CES in Las Vegas. Photo: Abbie Parr / Associated Press
At the heart of the new system is the "smart brick" (Smart Brick), which externally resembles a classic 2x4 piece but internally conceals powerful technology. Lego engineers developed their own microchip, smaller than a single stud on the brick, and equipped it with a full set of sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, light and color sensors, and a sound synthesizer.
Thanks to this, the brick understands how it is held, where it is moved, and at what speed it "flies", instantly reacting with appropriate sounds and light effects that are generated in real-time, rather than played from a recording.
Smart Brick at CES in Las Vegas. Photo: Abbie Parr / Associated Press
The system operates based on three interconnected elements: the Smart Brick itself, special tags (Smart Tags), and smart minifigures.
Tags are small tiles that "tell" the smart brick what it is currently a part of. If inserted into an X-Wing fighter model with a tag, the brick will start emitting engine and laser sounds.
Smart minifigures also have built-in chips: for example, if a Darth Vader figure is placed in a cockpit, the system recognizes the character and can play the famous "Imperial March" or characteristic breathing sounds. Here's what it looks like:
This is a real technological revolution for the company, as all elements form a decentralized wireless network (BrickNet). The bricks can "communicate" with each other at a distance, determining their mutual location without the need to connect to a central hub or tablet.
Development has been underway for over 10 years and includes more than 20 patented solutions, aimed at bringing children back to physical play, developing their creativity without screen devices.
The first sets to support Smart Play will be legendary ships from the "Star Wars" universe. The launch will be phased, with the novelty officially available starting March 1, 2026, only in six countries: USA, UK, Germany, France, Australia, and neighboring Poland.
Reel about the new system from Associated Press
The price of starter sets begins at 40 euros for a small Luke's ship, up to 160 euros for the "Battle for Darth Vader's Throne" set. Some sets are compatible with Smart Play, while others are sold as All-in-one — meaning they contain everything needed to start playing immediately.
The highlight is that every element of the set will now be "alive" — it will be possible to simulate ship battles with an internal damage scoring system, refuel them at fueling stations, and simulate communication between ground and ship. Children can model interactions between different SmartPlay elements themselves.
Three-minute demonstration of how the new system works
"Lego" believes that this platform will define the development of the toy industry for decades to come, combining nostalgia for bricks with advanced technologies.
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