Lego’s New Smart Play Sets Bring Star Wars to Life

Lego is about to change the way fans build and play with the iconic brick system. The company just announced the launch of Lego Smart Play, a major new technology platform that adds interactive digital features to physical sets without requiring a screen. The debut comes with three Star Wars-themed sets hitting shelves on March 1, 2026, with preorders now live at major retailers.

The launch marks one of the biggest evolutions in Lego's 70-year history. The company is positioning Smart Play as the most significant advancement in the Lego System-in-Play since the introduction of the minifigure in 1978. For Star Wars fans and collectors, this means building sets that actually respond to how you play with them, adding an entirely new dimension to the classic brick experience.

Background

Lego has spent years developing the technology behind Smart Play, and the Star Wars franchise proved to be the perfect testing ground for this ambitious new system. The three inaugural sets represent different scales of gameplay, from smaller builds to a massive 962-piece throne room set. Each set comes fully equipped with all the components needed to experience the complete Smart Play ecosystem, so buyers don't need to purchase additional gear to unlock the full experience.

The timing of this launch is significant for Lego, which has been looking for ways to blend physical and digital play without relying on screens. Smart Play achieves this through a combination of hardware innovations that work together seamlessly. The core technology runs on a custom chip inside the Smart Brick that can interpret motion, orientation, and magnetic fields in real time. This means the sets don't just light up or make sounds randomly—they respond directly to how you're playing with them.

Key Details

The three sets launching in March offer different price points and play experiences. The most affordable option is Darth Vader's TIE Fighter, priced at $99.99 with 473 pieces. This set features a Smart Brick that makes iconic TIE engine sounds as you fly the ship around, plus a Smart Darth Vader minifigure and a Rebel outpost. It's designed for ages 8 and up.

The mid-range option is Luke's Red Five X-Wing at $149.99, containing 584 pieces and aimed at ages 6 and up. This set includes two Smart minifigures—Luke and Leia—plus five Smart Tags that add interactivity to the side builds like an Imperial turret and a Rebel grounds crew vehicle. The X-wing itself produces laser and engine sounds as you play with it.

The premium set is the Throne Room Duel & A-Wing at $249.99, featuring 962 pieces and designed for ages 9 and up. This is the most feature-rich option, with three Smart minifigures—Luke, Darth Vader, and Emperor Palpatine—plus two Smart Bricks and five Smart Tags. The standout feature here is that you can power both sides of a battle simultaneously, so the A-wing can fight the turbolaser while Luke duels Vader, and the sets can sense when they hit each other.

All three sets include a wireless charger for the Smart Brick, eliminating the need for cables or batteries. The Smart Bricks use a custom chip with a built-in accelerometer to detect movement and tilt, triggering context-specific sound effects and light responses. The audio system uses modular synthesizers that generate sounds in real time rather than playing pre-recorded clips, making each interaction feel fresh and responsive.

The Smart Tags are small components that attach to builds and communicate with the Smart Bricks through near-field magnetic positioning. This technology allows the bricks to sense distance, direction, and orientation, creating a web of interactive elements within each set. The Smart minifigures work similarly, reacting to motion and proximity to trigger their own unique sounds and effects.

What This Means

For the Lego community, Smart Play represents a major shift in how physical toys can integrate technology. Unlike many modern toy lines that push kids toward screens and apps, Smart Play keeps the focus on hands-on building and imaginative play while adding responsive digital elements. This approach appeals to both parents concerned about screen time and collectors who want their sets to feel more alive.

"LEGO SMART Play, one of the most significant evolutions in the LEGO System-in-Play since the introduction of the LEGO Minifigure in 1978"

The launch of Smart Play with Star Wars sets is strategic. Star Wars fans are among Lego's most dedicated customers, and the franchise offers natural opportunities for interactive play—lightsaber duels, spaceship battles, and iconic sound effects that fans already know and love. This gives the company a way to test the platform with an audience that's likely to appreciate the innovation.

Lego has also designed Smart Play to be compatible with every Lego set ever made. The Smart Brick's color sensor allows it to work with existing collections, meaning fans can potentially add Smart Play technology to vintage sets or combine new Smart Play sets with older builds. This backward compatibility could expand the appeal beyond just the new sets.

The technology also opens doors for future expansion. While the launch focuses on Star Wars, Lego could easily bring Smart Play to other franchises and themes. Imagine Harry Potter sets where wands cast spells, or Marvel sets where Iron Man's suit lights up and responds to nearby buildings. The possibilities extend far beyond what's launching in March.

For retailers and the broader toy industry, Smart Play signals that physical toys still have room to innovate and compete in an increasingly digital world. Rather than replacing play with screens, Lego is enhancing traditional building with responsive technology that encourages creativity and imagination. As preorders go live and March approaches, all eyes will be on whether this ambitious new system resonates with fans or becomes a cautionary tale about over-engineering classic toys.