TeriXeri

One thing I could think of a "Big Reveal" would be sets related to The Super Mario Bros. Movie , which has an April release date.

The fact those are pure alternate builds make it even more amazing. I suppose that's also a big benefit from those cars getting more parts each since 8 wide, but also slopes and wedge plates very fitting to sci-fi shapes.

Definately, production time / energy / transport cost certainly count likely far more then the raw plastic cost. In recent years LEGO magazines have increased a few times in short time, from €5 in 2021, to €6 in 2022, and now even a standard 2023 Friends or City magazine is €6,50. Of course paper cost increasing from shortages also contribute to that overall price jump. (and I wonder if that also delayed LEGO's "Paper Bags")

Could very well be, like those Dinosaurs were. With 253 pieces, makes it basicly 99% guaranteed I wonder if they'll pick the color scheme of the Galah parrot (pink/grey with a white top of head) , or some fictional bird. Maybe this is the 3rd summer set then, since it doesn't skip a number. (31143 is the limited/exclusive birdhouse) Unless a 31145 appears later. With 3 "classic" 3-in-1 themes on the market still (Pirate / Castle / Viking), + Galaxy Explorer + Monkie Kid / City space sets still on the market as well, I have a feeling the Space rollercoaster is this year's Creator Space set then. Would be nice if it's Futuron colored. (Friends had white track pieces in 2021, would set it apart a little bit from the light grey Pirate Rollercoaster track)

Seeing how strict Nintendo was a while back with Videos/Streams about their games, they seemed very protective, I keep thinking since Amiibo exist as figures/integration into games, they want to sell those first and foremost, and then all those LEGO "buildable" figures fall under a different category. (of course none of this is confirmed by LEGO or Nintendo, just my thoughts) Similar to how LEGO is not allowed to sell Star Wars minifigs set without a build (exception seems to be foil packs that come with magazines)

Brown , Tan and Dark Orange are certainly in production and all currently available on PAB in Europe, just need White and Black to return , or perhaps some new variants of color or prints. And yeah, I know PAB price doesn't reflect set prices , especially if it's something like 2 horses of same color, would probably be cheaper to produce then 2 different horses in a set, for something like a carriage etc. Latest example would be the HP set with 2 white horses, or the Sleigh with 4 Reindeer (which are valued at €7,64 ) Tan and Dark Orange horse being in multiple sets also helps, as they are listed under Bestseller , which before, they were not.

I still feel minifig Horses have been neglected quite long , so 2 horses over animals was a needed thing in the big castle set. In a village set, horses are less mandatory ,and something like Cows and other farm animals are more at the right place. (I know this is probably a personal view, due to rediscovering LEGO back in 2016 again and looking at other non-licensed themes after 2018, it wasn't until fairly recent where horses were in themes like IDEAS, or City again). I do know the earlier 2010s did have many horses however as themes like Castle or Lord of the Rings or Lone Ranger were around at the time of the horse re-design, but my viewpoint is mainly from 2018 onward, there were a few years with few minifig horses (beside 1 harry potter set in 2019, and then the more recent sets which had the Tan and Dark Orange horses). Currently a Pick a Brick horse + Saddle is valued over €8 (€5.24 + €2,82) , directly from LEGO. And we're in 2023, which is already 10 years since the last Castle/Lord of the Rings/Lone Ranger price points, , so a small set with 1 horse is probably €20 minimum nowadays.

The truck is 6 wide max, unless you include wheels + arches , but yes it's certainly City scaled.

Looks like some mid-year retirement dates are known for sets (brickset) , July 31 2023 : 71738: Zane's Titan Mech Battle (2021 Legacy / Possession) 71754: Water Dragon (2021 Seabound) 71756: Hydro Bounty (2021 Seabound) 71759: Ninja Dragon Temple 4+ (2022 Core ) 71762: Kai's Fire Dragon EVO (2022 Core ) 71770: Zane's Golden Dragon Jet (2022 Crystalized) 71773: Kai's Golden Dragon Raider (2022 Crystalized) This isn't the first time Ninjago has 31 july as a retirement date for some of the sets, it happened a few years now, likely seems to make room for more sets, and perhaps based on sales for specific sets instead of just removing an entire subtheme at once. Retirement of Zane's Mech does mark the end of the 2019-2021 Legacy era of sets , but the Legacy Magazine still looks like it's releasing at least until the end of 2023.

Some LEGO House related sets eventually showed up on LEGO's online shop in some regions, but could take more then a year. Hopefully a wider release is planned for this, as 40366: LEGO House Dinosaurs is currently still sold but UK only. And a big Redbeard is a lot different from a LEGO House specific build imo.

Yes that was the first minifig set with it (duplo had a few before that), a lot of sets after have wheelchairs now, 2022 had a record, 3 in City and 3 in Friends , 1 in Avatar and 1 via CMF.

Ogel is back? Looks like Friends-Tron creating a dimensional shift was true after all. (Friends-Tron being a self made up Blacktron meme from trans-neon green appearing in the Roller Disco Arcade and a white/black/neon lamp in the 2022 Main Street Building) Not a lamp, but a dimensional device made by Blacktron 2 agents.

It's nothing more then a theory, of sharing the same name, I mean City has had numerous variants of Main Square, City Centre, Town Center, Shopping Street etc. Main Street is just a simple way to describe a set with multiple builldings (that could possibly connect as we see with previous 3-in-1, and the last Friends Main Street), especially a 3-in-1 one, for which we know, at 1400+ pieces, the alternate builds can be very detailed as well. I mean, even some of the latest 3-in-1 sets, Pet Store, Toy Shop, Noodle Shop, had very respectable alternate builds and were much smaller sets in piece counts, and had buildings like a Bank, Flower Shop, Bike Shop, Arcade, Dentist, Hair Dresser, Cake Shop and more. Creator 3-in-1 is just one of those themes the closest to something using more basic pieces , so recreating a build inspired by the 1980 Main Street is certainly possible, but I wouldn't count on a "re-release" copy looking the same, more in spirit, if anything. Again, just a theory, for one, I think might even have only like a 5% chance of happening (made up number), and if it's something entirely different, I'd still be happy for seeing a big 3-in-1 set focused on buildings. The main reason I came up with the idea, because that's what it is, is the 90th anniversary, and LEGO has been remaking 1980s based Castle, Pirate and Space builds and figures the last few years, and Main Street is also 80s and again featured again in the Legends line in the 2004, but likely not big enough to have it's dedicated Icons remake (which is also complicated due to it being a Baseplates set) 3-in-1 has had references to older sets before, with the Pirate Rollercoaster having a ticket entrance similar to Lagoon Lockup, and then we see Pirate Ship and a Skull island later which were sets. Then Castle came at a convenient time to use Black Falcon figures And the Viking Ship references to both the ship+serpent set, and Fenrir sets of the past. None of them could be considered Re-Releases , just very inspired by the general idea of the sets. Wheras those via Ideas ( the ship-build in Barracuda Bay), and recent Icons Forestmen Hideout / Blacktron are certainly direct remakes to old set numbers.

The odd part how those retired trees were used in their last years The large pine tree got a new mold number in 2017 but only was used in a few sets, probably largest volume of sales coming from the Xtra polybag. And then the round tree even got a recolor in 2013 that was only used once, and the tree itself was never seen after that. In the case of the Cypress, it's probably been gone for too long however, similar faith to the large palm leaf, both being out of production for 20+ years. Not even the 2003 re-release Legends version of 10041: Main Street could bring back the Cypress sadly. Priority probably went into bringing back the 2 grey baseplates for that set. (they aren't 100% the same as the 1980 version as sidewalk studs vary but still essential to the set as a re-release)

What if the 3-in-1 Main Street is actually a "90th anniversary" inspired build based on 6390: Main Street It won't have the baseplates, traffic signs or cypress tree obviously but most of the builds seem basic enough for Creator.

In US: Both Pirate and Viking are listed at $120 on LEGO.com, and Castle still $100 (USD) Australian prices : Galaxy Explorer AUD $180 Pirate Ship AUD $190 Viking Ship AUD $180 Castle AUD $160 Anyway, I've been thinking about summer sets, the "Main Street" is quite large at 1459 pieces, as well as rollercoaster at nearly 900 pieces, maybe if there will be a 3rd set based on an old theme, could be a smaller set instead, or just large and exclusive.

Pirate Ship was €100, then €120 and even raised to €130 now but does get discounts, but the best price was still right after launch before the price increases. Castle and Galaxy Explorer both are €100 but mostly exclusive in my country so never had a big discount. Viking Ship is €120 but also get discounts.

That's the original full price , I didn't get that police station, even when it was available for half price. I got the 2022 version instead , which is obviously smaller but I like it a lot more. (planning to expand the building with the 2023 academy)

31143: Birdhouse Quite an interesting set, in particular how it got so many of the same part in different colors, maybe that explains why it's a LEGO exclusive so they could spend more budget at the set while keeping the price fair (almost 500 pieces for €30 at this size isn't bad) Parts wise has a very varied range of pieces, used in original ways in the alternative builds. Also easily could be converted to a minifig treehouse.

So for Summer, there are 2 known sets (Space Rollercoaster and a Street), I imagine the 3rd set is probably retailer/lego.com exclusive (31120 Castle still pretty much is in my country). I really wonder what direction they'll go , it could go multiple ways : Pirates , the current ship set is from 2020, which is already really long for a big 3-in-1 set, while retirement is unknown, I have a feeling end of 2023 might be it. Sci-Fi Space , just because there's a "space" rollercoaster, doesn't mean there can't be a space set as well. Different Classic theme , like Adventurers but I wonder how that'll fit under 3-in-1, as some aspects certainly rely on the figures and decorated/special pieces to get the same 90s feel to it, but the 3-in-1 Vikings did get unique fig prints and a new hairpiece, maybe adventurers could share some pieces with the Indiana jones wave, seems more likely compared to Western which 3-in-1 does not do horses.

I think the most interesting part about 2023, LEGO really seems to sync City and Friends now. Summer waves of both themes have Ski sets, then Friends gets an Iglo, and City gets some Arctic. Then Friends gets a Sea Rescue airplane / centre, while City gets a Submarine and a Ship. Also Skate Parks in the same year, and City has a Park tractor while Friends gets a Garden. Of course Friends still has it's own focus like 2 Horse Stable related sets, Sports, and Pancake Place, while City gets an Ice Cream shop, Car Wash, Appartments and City Center.

Yes, it's my new favorite color, after Transparent Neon Orange. Could look excellent with Dark Blue, or some mix of Blue+Black as main color with Vibrant Yellow for contrast.

Best alternative to a classic palm tree is probably stacking cones and then reinforcing it with a flexible bar/"rigid hose" part inside. But still, if we just talk "current" parts (and not sourcing parts via bricklink etc.), only the smaller palm leaf is in production. The Large single leaf variant has not been made for 21 years, so even if it's listed as "new" it's not really. (but that's another discussion). And I think LEGO should avoid doing things like this again :

Since this is the last big DOTS year, and recent sets have a whole bunch of vibrant yellow tiles, and vibrant yellow bricks are still fairly rare, it's currently a pretty good alternative to bricks for larger areas like sides of ambulances etc. Especially when trying to recreate certain regional designs of stripes/blocks, using 1x1 tiles can be a nice way to LEGO-fy a build without making custom realistic stickers. Currently it's just an idea , nothing concrete yet, but especially the UK ambulance pattern should be fairly easy to recreate with vibrant yellow and teal 1x1 tiles :

Yeah it's a big contrast compared to like the 2010-2019 period. Not including Current themes, 2010s had Atlantis, Ultra Agents, Alien Conquest, Galaxy Squad, Chima, Pirates, Nexo Knights, Hidden Side for the non licensed, and then LEGO Movie 1 and 2 partially licensed , and then Elves for Minidolls. I know it's only 2023, and too early to compare decades, 2020 was a mixed year, with Hidden Side ending and Monkie Kid appearing, 2021 is mostly known for Vidiyo emerging and rapidly disappearing again, so I'd say the main succes in terms of new themes starting from 2020 has been Monkie Kid so far with it's 4th year. Of course a shift toward 18+ sets, and 3-in-1 integrating "Classic" themes cannot be forgotten, as the 2020 Pirate Ship, 2021 Castle and 2022 Viking Ship are still sold, as well as Castle and Space not really "themes" but still has big sets like Blacksmith Shop, Lion's Castle and Galaxy Explorer remake + GWPs. And Ninjago and Friends still feel quite innovative even after 10+ years each, both coming out of their anniversary years and now heading into a new direction both of them. DreamZZZ is next in the lineup.