Lego has introduced its new Smart Play system at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This system integrates custom-designed computer chips into standard Lego bricks, tags, and minifigures to enable interactive play experiences with contextual sounds and lights, designed to operate without requiring external screens or applications. The development is the result of an eight-year research and development effort and is scheduled for an initial launch in March 2026 with Star Wars-themed sets.
System Overview and Purpose
The Lego Smart Play initiative aims to introduce interactivity into physical toys while maintaining a screen-free play experience. Julia Goldin, Lego's chief product and marketing officer, characterized the system as a new platform and the next evolution in the Lego System in Play. Tom Donaldson, Senior Vice President at The Lego Group, highlighted the system's compact size, integrated sensing, and smart capabilities, emphasizing the potential for children to reuse the smart bricks in various configurations to promote imaginative physical play.
Core Technology
The Smart Play system is centered around a custom-designed Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip. This chip, measuring 4.1 millimeters, is reported to be smaller than a single Lego stud and is embedded within a standard 2x4 Lego brick, referred to as a Smart Brick.
The Smart Brick is equipped with multiple components, including:
- Accelerometers
- Light sensors
- A microphone or sound sensor
- An LED array
- A miniature speaker driven by an onboard synthesizer
The system utilizes various communication technologies, including contactless technology, copper coils, magnetic fields, and Bluetooth. It employs near-field magnetic positioning to identify surrounding Smart Tags and a proprietary Bluetooth-based communication protocol called BrickNet, which includes enhanced encryption and privacy controls, enabling multiple Smart Bricks to recognize and cooperate with each other.
Components and Functionality
The Smart Play system comprises three main interactive components:
- Smart Brick: These bricks contain the core technology, facilitating intuitive sounds and lights. They are designed to connect with other smart components in a set and can be wirelessly charged.
- Smart Tags: These are 2x2 studless tiles containing unique digital identifiers. They are designed to trigger specific in-set behaviors and actions when detected by Smart Bricks or Smart Minifigures.
- Smart Minifigures: These figures are also equipped to trigger interactive elements within a set.
When utilized together, the Smart Bricks, Tags, and Minifigures produce contextual sound and light effects during play. Examples of demonstrated capabilities include lightsaber sounds, engine noises from spacecraft, blaster fire, and the playback of "The Imperial March." The integrated accelerometer allows effects to correspond with the physical movement of the toy. Smart Bricks have also been demonstrated to detect the color of an adjacent brick and subsequently emit that same color.
Launch Details and Initial Products
The Smart Play system is scheduled for an official launch in March 2026, with pre-orders reported to commence on January 9 or on a Friday in January 2026. The initial release will feature three Star Wars-themed sets:
- Luke’s Red Five X-Wing Set: This 584-piece set includes two Smart Minifigures (Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia), one Smart Brick, and five Smart Tags. It is designed to generate laser-shooting, engine, light, refueling, and repair sounds. Reported prices include $100, €100, and $69.99.
- Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter Kit: A 473-piece set featuring a Smart Darth Vader Minifigure, one Smart Brick, and one Smart Tag. It is designed to produce ion engine sound effects. Reported prices include $70 and €70.
- Throne Room Duel Set (also referred to as Throne Room Duel and A-wing set): This 962-piece set features three Smart Minifigures (Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and Luke Skywalker). It is designed to enable the recreation of a lightsaber battle, complete with laser sword sounds, and plays "The Imperial March" when Emperor Palpatine is positioned on his throne. Reported prices include $160 and $159.99.
Charging and Future Expansion
Smart Bricks are charged wirelessly using a dedicated charging system, which includes a yellow dock. Lego has indicated intentions to expand the system through future updates and additional technology integrations.