The LEGO Group presented a live video stream yesterday titled LEGO CON, in which the company presented a variety of fun activities and announced a new LEGO Ideas set.
In a press release following LEGO CON, the LEGO Group’s livestream video (and not an actual convention), the company is keen to trumpet the stream’s success, declaring that it ‘dazzled’ fans.
While it was undoubtedly an diverting variety show, with LEGO build challenges, quick interviews and a lot of energy from the hosts, it didn’t offer seasoned LEGO fans a great deal more than what can be found on the LEGO YouTube channel. That’s absolutely fine given that its target audiences was families and specifically children aged between 9 and 12, but it’s worth adult fans tempering their expectations if they plan on watching it after the fact.
In terms of product reveals, the only announcement was the Foosball Table from LEGO Ideas. This fan design by Donát Fehérvári was selected from the We Love Sports contest entries to be released as an official model.
Three LEGO Star Wars sets were also unveiled, although these were first shared via a LEGO catalogue a few weeks ago.
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Beyond that it was a case of fun builds and quick interviews with former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino talking about the NASA Artemis mission. LEGO Designer George Gilliatt talked about his colleagues’ work on 21321 International Space Station, 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery and the 2019 LEGO City sets (maybe they’re not retiring this year as we might otherwise expect).
In pre-recorded segments, a driving challenge saw Volvo Engineer Frida Jönsson and LEGO Designer Samuel Tacchi see who could best drive a LEGO vehicle through an obstacle course, while a speed build saw Design Master Marcos Bessa and Senior Designer Djordje Djordjevic race to see who could complete a set first.
The show also saw the launch of the LEGO DOTS installation in LEGO House, with fans able to digitally design a square that LEGO House Play Agents will then replicate physically and add to the giant collaborative mosaic. Hopefully this will be a temporary installation, as the ethos of LEGO House is about celebrating the brick rather than specific themes.
Given that Minecraft livestreams inspired LEGO CON, it was appropriate that Mojang Studios’ Chief Storyteller Lydia Winters joined the livestream to launch a fan vote for a new skin to be added to the theme next year.
There was also a look at LEGO Luigi, LEGO Friends summer sets and information on the new recycled LEGO brick prototype.
‘We established LEGO CON as a unique way to bring fans of all ages and interests together for one incredible and inspiring day of LEGO fun! We wanted to connect with LEGO fans in a new way, and seeing the idea which we first pitched internally ten months ago now brought to life feels truly incredible,’ said Emma Perkins, Senior Director at the LEGO Agency. ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to see the engagement from fans who fully emerged themselves in the event, whether it was through voting in a poll, creating a LEGO DOTS design, or connecting with other like-minded fans in the live chats. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for LEGO CON moving forward!’