TheLEGOfranchise remains one of the most popular brands in the entertainment world, and its video game tie-ins have maintained a strong level of success. Even with a bevy of titles on the market,LEGOvideo games are consistently in demand among gamers of all ages. The brand also continues to push itself with its video game collaborations, as evidenced by the recent release ofLEGO Horizon Adventuresin late 2024.
Recently,theLEGObrand announced the creation of a brand-new internal development studioto head the creation of future games. This is big news for the franchise, but it’s fairly surprising given that the franchise has already had a longtime primary developer in TT Games. WithLEGOset to change development hands in earnest for the first time in two decades, it’s certainly questionable where the developer formerly known as Traveller’s Tales will go from here.
LEGO’s New Developer Has Its Ups And Downs
A New LEGO Developer Brings Fresh Flavor To The Franchise
In one breath, having a new development studio handlingLEGOgames could prove beneficial for the brand in allowing it to release games more closely tied to newly released sets. WhileLEGOtitles don’t exist on a specific release schedule, several previous titles played out more like tie-ins to then-upcoming films that hadLEGOsets as opposed to tie-ins toLEGOsets themselves. A newly established developer can pull more from the release schedule of theLEGOtoys themselves, and use that as a basis for upcoming titles.
Also, establishing a new developer could lead to a more diverse set of games than the franchise currently offers. While TT Games has had plenty of success with theLEGOseries, several of its games follow a comparable formula to what was established withthe developer’s originalLEGOgame, 2005’sLEGO Star Wars: The Video Game. A new developer has a brand-new template to work with beyond the typical action-adventure gameplay that TT works with, meaning it could hop across genres and styles depending on the IP it has to work with.
Traveller’s Tales’ LEGO Work Could Be De-Emphasized
That said, TT Games has developed a following for itsLEGOgames over the years, and the news of this new developer may indicate that TT Games may not be creating quite as many moreLEGOgames in the future. Granted, there are rumors thatTT Games has a newLEGOgame on the way, but this new developer’s presence may push TT out of the picture to some extent. The team’s once-prolific LEGO output has already slowed as it is, as the team has not shipped a game since 2022’sLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
If theLEGObrand emphasizes this new development team, TT Games may be pushed into a support development role. This would be unfortunate for a developer who has been around for as long as it has and has contributed as much as it has to the ever-popular brand over the past few decades. It would also not do any favors for the team’s overall morale, given that previous discussions of crunch and studio mismanagementplagued the team during the development ofThe Skywalker Saga.
If theLEGObrand emphasizes this new development team, TT Games may be pushed into a support development role.
Maybe TT Games Will Get To Make Some Non-LEGO Games
On the positive side, perhapsLEGObringing in a new primary developer could mean thatTT Games will be allowed to make non-LEGOgamesin the future. The developer has not released a game outside of theLEGObrand since 2008’sThe Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, as the studio’s purchase by WB Games in 2007 eventually led to exclusive work on the toy franchise. IfLEGOis establishing a new team to work on games, maybe TT Games will get a small reprieve fromLEGOtitles and get to work on something entirely unique.
LEGOestablishing a brand-new developer for its titles is an exciting prospect for the future of the franchise’s video game tie-ins. Even so, given the brand’s long-standing relationship with TT Games - and the popularity of the developer’s tie-in titles - this news could be bittersweet for longtime fans who have followed the brand’s games up to this point. Here’s hoping TT Games still gets a chance to thrive in a leading developer role, whether that’s on theLEGOfranchise or not.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
WHERE TO PLAY
The galaxy is yours in LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga. Experience memorable moments and nonstop action from all nine Skywalker saga films reimagined with signature LEGO humor. The digital edition includes an exclusive classic Obi-Wan Kenobi playable character.Explore the Trilogies in Any Order – Players will relive the epic story of all nine films in the Skywalker Saga, and it all starts with picking the trilogy of their choice to begin the journey.Play as Iconic Heroes and Villains – More than 300 playable characters from throughout the galaxy.Discover Legendary Locales – Players can visit well known locales from their favorite Skywalker saga films .They can unlock and have the freedom to seamlessly travel to 23 planets as they play through the saga or explore and discover exciting quests.Command Powerful Vehicles – More than 100 vehicles from across the galaxy to command. Join dogfights and defeat capital ships like the Super Star Destroyer that can be boarded and explored.Immersive Player Experiences – String attacks together to form combo chains and fend off oncoming attacks. New blaster controls and mechanics allow players to aim with precision, or utilize the skills of a Jedi by wielding a lightsaber and using the power of The Force.Upgradable Character Abilities – Exploration rewards players as they uncover Kyber Bricks which unlock new features and upgraded abilities across a range of character classes, including Jedi, Hero, Dark Side, Villain, Scavenger, Scoundrel, Bounty Hunter, Astromech Droid, and Protocol Droid.
