A new Star Wars LEGO set will allow people to build and program their own droids. Along with the Force, lightsabers, and the Millennium Falcon, droids are among the most iconic elements of the entire franchise. As many will recall, none other than C-3PO and R2-D2 served as audiences' gateway into the galaxy far, far away, kickstarting the original film with their daring escape off the Tantive IV. Since then, droids have been a series staple; Artoo and Threepio will be the only characters to appear in all nine episodes of the Skywalker saga, and the likes of BB-8, K-2SO, and L3-37 continue the Star Wars droid legacy.
Most Star Wars fans would love to have a droid companion, and given the advancements in technology, Lucasfilm's licensing partners have come pretty close to the real thing. During the build-up to 2015's The Force Awakens, there was much buzz surrounding Sphero's app-enabled BB-8, which had the ability to interact with its environment. Sphero has added to their line in the years since, and now LEGO is getting in on the fun with an innovative product of their own.
Today (in celebration of Star Wars Day), LEGO unveiled the Star Wars BOOST Droid Commander. The set contains 1,177 pieces so fans can construct R2-D2, the Gonk droid, and the Mouse droid. Watch a short teaser video showcasing the kit in the space below:
BOOST Droid Commander will be available on September 1, 2019 and costs $199.99. That's a hefty price for one LEGO set, but it sounds like it'll be worth it. Through the free LEGO BOOST Star Wars app, people will be able to program their droids and send them on 40 different missions. Among the highlights are the inclusion of authentic movie sounds and movement, making this unlike any Star Wars LEGO set that's been released before. What makes things even better is that each droid has its own individual set of missions, allowing for nice variety. For example, R2-D2 can receive and decode messages, while the Mouse droid can sweep for trash and locate Rebels. It seems as if this set will keep fans busy for a while as they explore the numerous possibilities.
With a September release date, LEGO is getting a jump on the competition this holiday shopping season. Interestingly, BOOST Droid Commander hits shelves about a month before Triple Force Friday, the event that sees a plethora of Star Wars merchandise come out. LEGO most assuredly has some products planned for that (namely some The Rise of Skywalker tie-in sets), but they couldn't wait to share BOOST Droid Commander with the world. Just by taking a quick glimpse at it, it's easy to see why.
Source: LEGO
