Silicon Heart in a Plastic Shell
At the core of the new Smart Brick lies a custom 4.1 mm ASIC chip, which is smaller than a single standard LEGO stud. Running on the proprietary Play Engine, the chip processes real-time data from an accelerometer, light and sound sensors, and magnetic field detectors. The brick also features RGB LEDs and a miniature speaker with an onboard synthesizer; sounds like an X-Wing engine or a lightsaber hum are generated programmatically rather than played from recorded memory.
Spatial Magic: BrickNet and NPM
The standout innovation is NPM (Neighbour Position Measurement), a system using copper coils to determine the precise 3D orientation and distance of nearby bricks. Multiple Smart Bricks automatically form a secure BrickNet mesh network via low-latency Bluetooth, enabling synchronized interactions—for instance, a TIE Fighter can "sense" an approaching X-Wing and trigger battle sounds. Special Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures provide context, "telling" the brick whether it has become part of a starship, a race car, or a castle.
Launch Details and Star Wars Sets
The Smart Play platform is scheduled for global release on March 1, 2026. The inaugural lineup will feature Star Wars themed sets, including highly detailed interactive X-Wing and TIE Fighter models. Prices for these first kits will range from $99 to $159, with pre-orders already live in select regions like the US, UK, and Germany. LEGO frames this advancement as a way to bring children back from digital screens to tactile, imaginative play enhanced by cutting-edge technology