LEGO has announced a new Smart Play system, which the famed toy company is calling its biggest innovation ever. Revealed at CES 2026, the Smart Play system consists of a new version of the iconic 2×4 brick, complete with customisable LED lights and sensors, a new 2×2 Smart Tag tile and companion Smart Minifigures.
Adding a Smart Minifigure to a Smart Brick activates the unique personalities of the character. The Bricks will play unique sounds, moods and reactions for every Smart Minifigure. The brick also senses the Smart Tag, whose purpose is to tell the Smart Brick what kind of object or creature is being built. It could be a spaceship, a helicopter, or even a toilet, LEGO says. To get started with the new system, LEGO has revealed some Star Wars sets. Smart.
The brick can react to movement like turns, twists and taps thanks to a built-in accelerometer and can play a limitless number of sounds thanks to the integrated speaker. Because the Smart Brick also has a colour sensor, LEGO says its compatible with every LEGO set ever.
“The Smart Tags help the Smart Brick unlock sounds, mini-games, even secret missions filled with hilarious Easter eggs to keep players guessing! And because there’s no limit to the potential number of Smart Tags, it makes the Smart Play System endlessly replayable,” LEGO explains.
So, using the example of a helicopter, LEGO says the Smart Tag can tell the Smart Brick to make propellor sounds, while the accelerometer within the brick would ensure a light show consistent with how the user is operating the helicopter.
All the interaction is made possible by a custom chip and near-field magnetic positioning is used by the Bricks to recognise the Smart Tags being used alongside the set. Meanwhile, there’s a new BrickNet protocol based on Bluetooth. This allows Smart Bricks to work in tandem. Thankfully, the whole thing works without the need for apps and screens.
The first three LEGO Smart Play sets are Star Wars-themed, with the pre-orders opening on Friday. There’s a Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter set, which is $69.99, a Luke’s Red Five X-wing set, which is $69.99, while the “Throne Room Duel and A-wing” set is $159.99. The interactive Minifigures include Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, and Princess Leia.
They all go on sale this spring. March 1, to be precise.
