LEGO Smart Play Discussion

[a_clay_brick]

Figured it's about time for a dedicated thread for this stuff. Apologies if this is not the right place for it, or if one was already made (I couldn't see one when I searched). All images come from LEGO's website, none of these are leaked.

What is LEGO Smart Play?

Smart Play is LEGO's next foray into the toys-to-life/smart toy market. Imagine LEGO Mario, but the Mario tech shrunk down into the size of a 2x4 brick.

For those unfamiliar, the LEGO Mario figure has sounds, lights, a scanner, and can connect to the LEGO Mario app. The scanner used an optical sensor combined with a color sensor to allow the Mario figure to react to certain things. If you put it on a red tile, it will treat it as lava. If you put it on a special 2x2 tile with a code, it will scan the code and react with sounds or lights. By connecting LEGO Mario to the app using Bluetooth, you are able to download updates that give new code tile information to the figure. If you purchase the other variants, Luigi and Peach, they can interact with each other.

The smart brick is an evolution of the technology I just described. By inserting the brick into various builds, its function will change. Place it in a volcano and it will glow red and rumble. Place it in a helicopter, it will provide headlights and make helicopter noises. Put it in a creature, and it can roar when you move it. LEGO's write up was about it was this:

Quote

The smartest LEGO brick we've ever built

The new LEGO brick is smart. You play with it and it responds directly to everything you do. The way you hold it. The way you move it. Even the way you build and rebuild your set. You're in complete control. Meet a very smart brick that knows how to play smart — and how to play silly too. 

It was first tested with City-Jungle sets in mid-2024 in the UK test market. You can read the discussion around it then here. 

The test sets were as follows: 60691 Jungle Explorer Base Camp, 60692 The Lost Crocodile Temple, and 60693 Survivor Island Seaplane. Only the explorer base camp included the brick, but all three sets utilized it. This also follows the Mario formula, with a starter set then auxiliary sets to utilize it.

60691 included the smart brick, a wireless charger for the smart brick, and three electronic minifigures. These minifigs are capable of sensing the smart brick and are able to play sounds.

Patents:

Spoiler

Also included were, like LEGO Mario, scannable code tiles that tell the smart brick to perform specific functions.

Spoiler

Thanks to reliable sources for rumors, we know the brick will be capable of connecting to apps and games, potentially even games like Fortnite. It is currently unknown how it exactly it would be implemented into stuff like that.

What we do know is that LEGO will be making a very big push for this in 2026, with it being in everything from 4+ Bluey sets to Technic sets aimed at teens. It will be in original themes and licensed themes like Star Wars and Pokemon. I will be sure to keep this thread updated with more information as we get it.

Edited October 7, 2025 by a_clay_brick
added additional image

[JopieK]

Interesting @a_clay_brick! Do you have it already? I would really like to see the internals ;)

[MAB]

It doesn't sound that interesting for AFOLs, it sounds like a trigger and response type toy. Put the trigger part close to the sensor and it makes a noise. Fun for 60 seconds but not much use after that. And no doubt it will massively increase the price of the sets it is in.

[Lyichir]

I think it sounds fine... like an evolution of classic light and sound elements from the 80s and 90s, with a bit more versatility (since it seems small and the same brick can make multiple sounds based on its interaction with other parts, instead of needing a bulky and specialized light and sound element for each set). Yes, it's mostly a novelty, but so are so many other gimmick features from throughout the years.

[a_clay_brick]

9 hours ago, JopieK said:

Interesting @a_clay_brick! Do you have it already? I would really like to see the internals ;)

I do not unfortunately! From what I understand, LEGO collected them all back at the end of the test. One person contacted me trying to sell it, but I don't believe he was successful.

8 hours ago, MAB said:

It doesn't sound that interesting for AFOLs, it sounds like a trigger and response type toy. Put the trigger part close to the sensor and it makes a noise. Fun for 60 seconds but not much use after that. And no doubt it will massively increase the price of the sets it is in.

Yeah, I feel like for adults the most interesting thing it will likely do is act like Mario does with the 18+ Mario sets, play sounds or music and thats it.

2 hours ago, Lyichir said:

I think it sounds fine... like an evolution of classic light and sound elements from the 80s and 90s, with a bit more versatility (since it seems small and the same brick can make multiple sounds based on its interaction with other parts, instead of needing a bulky and specialized light and sound element for each set). Yes, it's mostly a novelty, but so are so many other gimmick features from throughout the years.

Yeah- I definitely think the concept of Pokemon battles using it is compelling! 

[Murdoch17]

My thoughts can be summed up in seven words: "Not Impressed - stick to your roots LEGO!"

To expand upon that statement:

When will they learn to stick with what they know? I.E. The brick rules alone! They've been trying toys to life since the 2000s with that one Galidor set (8325, if memory serves, but it may have been 8316?), and the ONLY one of them that sells well enough is the Mario with the digi-figs*.... whereas Life of George, Dimensions, Vidiyo, Galidor, Fusion, Hidden Side, Nexo Knights, etc. did not do well!

 

*This might be because it's based on one of the most popular game characters of all time and minifigs don't exist of Mario and Co.

Edited October 7, 2025 by Murdoch17

[Lyichir]

19 hours ago, Murdoch17 said:

My thoughts can be summed up in seven words: "Not Impressed - stick to your roots LEGO!"

To expand upon that statement:

When will they learn to stick with what they know? I.E. The brick rules alone! They've been trying toys to life since the 2000s with that one Galidor set (8325, if memory serves, but it may have been 8316?), and the ONLY one of them that sells well enough is the Mario with the digi-figs*.... whereas Life of George, Dimensions, Vidiyo, Galidor, Fusion, Hidden Side, Nexo Knights, etc. did not do well!

 

*This might be because it's based on one of the most popular game characters of all time and minifigs don't exist of Mario and Co.

I mean, Nexo lasted three years and Hidden Side lasted two. Things not lasting forever is not a sign of failure in and of itself—otherwise I could point to plenty of "traditional" themes that had even less staying power. Also, your list leaves out Mindstorms and Technic (other tech-integrated themes that have had a much bigger impact overall than some of those one-off experimental themes), as well as non-"smart" electronic functions that go back even further (which this small, integrated brick seems to have more in common with in terms of how it facilitates play than things that function solely through an app interface).

I think Lego benefits from having both traditional themes and things that explore new directions and modes of interaction. The latter existing doesn't eliminate the former, and can attract a different audience than traditional sets do on their own.

[Mylenium]

On 10/7/2025 at 11:44 AM, MAB said:

It doesn't sound that interesting for AFOLs, it sounds like a trigger and response type toy. Put the trigger part close to the sensor and it makes a noise. Fun for 60 seconds but not much use after that.

Since it uses some form of NFC or Bluetooth communication it could potentially cover more serious uses and no doubt some people will make it a point to hack this, so I'm not completely against it. Triggering some flickering lights inside a building via the airwaves certainly sounds better than the current light bricks. It really will be a question of how "open" the system is and what plans LEGO have for it.

On 10/7/2025 at 11:44 AM, MAB said:

And no doubt it will massively increase the price of the sets it is in.

100% agree. LEGO will charge an extra 10 Euro even if the electronics cost 30 Cent to produce in a Chinese Factory.

Mylenium

 

[a_clay_brick]

Some stuff I should have mentioned in the OP:

There are leaked images of a smart brick X-wing and Pikachu floating around.

75423 Luke Skywalker’s X-wing, 75421 Darth Vader’s TIE Advance,  and 75427 are said to be Smart Play Star Wars sets releasing in March of next year.

Current rumored themes that will utilize it are (but not limited to) Star Wars, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Bluey, City, Technic, and Friends. 

[MAB]

4 hours ago, Mylenium said:

Since it uses some form of NFC or Bluetooth communication it could potentially cover more serious uses and no doubt some people will make it a point to hack this, so I'm not completely against it. Triggering some flickering lights inside a building via the airwaves certainly sounds better than the current light bricks. It really will be a question of how "open" the system is and what plans LEGO have for it.

100% agree. LEGO will charge an extra 10 Euro even if the electronics cost 30 Cent to produce in a Chinese Factory.

Mylenium

 

I imagine NFC as that is quite cheap to implement (not that Bluetooth is that much more). Funny enough, I have a load of the blank Dimensions 'data' tags that I use for NFC arduino and raspi projects as they were cheaper to buy than importing the cheapest tags from aliexpress. When all the Dimensions sets were sold off cheap, BL sellers were getting rid of them at about 5p per token. 

If these are for kids I really hope they don't go down the bluetooth via app on tablet or phone again like with vidiyo, especially if they only support the latest expensive kit again.

[Lyichir]

2 hours ago, MAB said:

I imagine NFC as that is quite cheap to implement (not that Bluetooth is that much more). Funny enough, I have a load of the blank Dimensions 'data' tags that I use for NFC arduino and raspi projects as they were cheaper to buy than importing the cheapest tags from aliexpress. When all the Dimensions sets were sold off cheap, BL sellers were getting rid of them at about 5p per token. 

If these are for kids I really hope they don't go down the bluetooth via app on tablet or phone again like with vidiyo, especially if they only support the latest expensive kit again.

It doesn't sound like most of these functions will rely on phone screens per se, but I imagine that like the Lego Mario figures a mobile app will still be involved, most importantly to download software updates. Personally I don't mind that sort of use because it adds longevity to the smart brick so that it can be updated with new interactions over time, instead of either requiring all sound/light effects to be programmed in from the start or having to release new, separate bricks for each set so that you have to keep track of which bricks are compatible with which sets.

[MAB]

9 hours ago, Lyichir said:

It doesn't sound like most of these functions will rely on phone screens per se, but I imagine that like the Lego Mario figures a mobile app will still be involved, most importantly to download software updates. Personally I don't mind that sort of use because it adds longevity to the smart brick so that it can be updated with new interactions over time, instead of either requiring all sound/light effects to be programmed in from the start or having to release new, separate bricks for each set so that you have to keep track of which bricks are compatible with which sets.

Yes, infrequent updates to get new sounds or to change the use from City to Ninjago for example would be fine. Although of course even that dies when LEGO stops selling the sets and support and downloads of the app. Look at how fast they dumped the companion apps for Hidden Side and Vidiyo. Having to download apk files from what could be dodgy websites is never good.

[Black Falcon]

On 10/7/2025 at 8:26 PM, Murdoch17 said:

My thoughts can be summed up in seven words: "Not Impressed - stick to your roots LEGO!"

To expand upon that statement:

When will they learn to stick with what they know? I.E. The brick rules alone! They've been trying toys to life since the 2000s with that one Galidor set (8325, if memory serves, but it may have been 8316?), and the ONLY one of them that sells well enough is the Mario with the digi-figs*.... whereas Life of George, Dimensions, Vidiyo, Galidor, Fusion, Hidden Side, Nexo Knights, etc. did not do well!

What about light and sound? In the end it seems like that brick can aswell be used as a replacement for that, though we have to see how much it affects the price of the sets - not that if they brought light and sound back it wouldn´t raise the price of sets where it is included.

On 10/9/2025 at 10:22 AM, MAB said:

Yes, infrequent updates to get new sounds or to change the use from City to Ninjago for example would be fine. Although of course even that dies when LEGO stops selling the sets and support and downloads of the app. Look at how fast they dumped the companion apps for Hidden Side and Vidiyo. Having to download apk files from what could be dodgy websites is never good.

Yeah but unlike those two we have brick here and not a theme that will be discontinued after a short time. Of course one day it could be replaced by a newer version or could still just fail completely - but unlike hiddenside and vidyo the use of the brick isn´t as limited as the apps for those two themes were, so I would be surprised if it just disappears as fast.

[Toastie]

11 minutes ago, Black Falcon said:

if it just disappears as fast

Hmm - define "fast". 

I thought - back in the days - 12V will last "forever". After 4.5V seemed a bit underpowered, that is. (I know, stupid me ...) 

Wrong: 9V appeared - voltage/powerwise, no power argument anymore, one thing was the sort-of idiot proofed plugs. You could stack them!

Wrong: PF appeared - voltage/powerwise, no change, but >totally< idiot proofed plugs. And some nifty IR devices. 

Wrong: PUp appeared - still idiot proofed plugs - but you can't stack them anymore. But hey, it has become all smart! (BTW, I just started to change my "would be smart", or better "not so smart" power lines in the house - to smart systems - and just tonight called it >total crap<. Here and there is fine, but with the next update (as they say in the Blues Brothers movie: "The next gig is gonna be dynamite, huge, you'll see"), yeah, dynamite is a good description).

So, where are we now: Smart bricks? Why not! We had them at least since 1998. Even way before. Will the new, unbelievably smart system disappear "fast"? Honestly? If no comprehensive >system< is created by TLG, then yes, my thoughts are, it will go into oblivion the moment TLG can pull-off "something else". As they did as long as they exist. Hard feelings? No, not anymore. Any steep learning curve eventually trails off into a plateau.

I have lived through every electrical system TLG came up with. And I learned that they will change it, once it is - for them - wrought out. Money-wise. What else. It's a for-profit "organization" = world-wide operating enterprise in tough competition.

Just my thougts and best
Thorsten 

      

[Black Falcon]

12 minutes ago, Toastie said:

Hmm - define "fast".       

The definition is right in the text - as fast as Vidyo and Hidden Side.

That nothing lasts forever shouldn´t surprise anyone here and especially technical devices often don´t age well and get discontinued and replaced by something else. How long the Smart Brick will last? Who knows, but I don´t see it just disappearing in the next few years - at least that would really surprise me. But sure one day it will be replaced and if it is just by a never verions of itself with a new function. 

[Yoggington]

On 10/7/2025 at 7:26 PM, Murdoch17 said:

My thoughts can be summed up in seven words: "Not Impressed - stick to your roots LEGO!"

My thoughts in a single word!

"meh"

[Modeltrainman]

Watching to see how this affects trains,  with Powered Up and all...

[dr_spock]

Being app based could have some privacy concerns. 

[BrickTronic]

On 10/7/2025 at 2:31 AM, a_clay_brick said:

... All images come from LEGO's website, none of these are leaked.
...

 

Hello,

Where  can I find Picture(s) and Info on LEGO Website ?
I failed.
A Link would be nice ...

Jo

[Lyichir]

23 hours ago, Modeltrainman said:

Watching to see how this affects trains,  with Powered Up and all...

I don't think this particular thing will affect trains at least as far as power is concerned, since it seems to be a self-contained brick without motors. I suppose it could still be used for light and sound functions in a train set with a separate system used to actually drive the train.

2 hours ago, dr_spock said:

Being app based could have some privacy concerns. 

I'm not sure how you mean? It doesn't seem to be a "social" app or anything like that. The most comparable thing currently, the Lego Mario app, doesn't really log anything about you except your age and allowing you to optionally link to a Lego.com username, both of which seem more to get broad demographic info about the app's users than anything else.

[a_clay_brick]

5 hours ago, BrickTronic said:

Hello,

Where  can I find Picture(s) and Info on LEGO Website ?
I failed.
A Link would be nice ...

Jo

Unfortunately they removed the page, but there is a post in the legoleak reddit from June 2024 that includes a screen recording of the website! The post title is "City-Jungle: The new smart brick that’s included in 60691 Jungle Explorer Basecamp (official reveal)"

[a_clay_brick]

Thanks to get.cooped, we now have an image of Farmboy Luke’s Smart Play fig.

Additional Smart Play figs coming: 

 

Farm Boy Luke
Dagobah Luke
Pilot Luke
Han Solo
Palpatine
Chewbacca
Vader
Yoda
Greedo
and more 

Edited October 20, 2025 by a_clay_brick

[Stereo]

Can you tell if the smart figures have removable legs?  The patent drawing looks like they don't use normal hip studs, but it's not really clear if you can switch legs between them once it's built.

[a_clay_brick]

1 hour ago, Stereo said:

Can you tell if the smart figures have removable legs?  The patent drawing looks like they don't use normal hip studs, but it's not really clear if you can switch legs between them once it's built.

They are attached