Bloody Hell, LEGO's Leaked Death Star Is a Grand. But It's Only Half a Sphere?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Leaked images suggest LEGO is launching a massive $1,000 Star Wars Death Star set with over 9,000 pieces, but it's a cross-section of the iconic battle station, not a full sphere. This unique design promises unprecedented interior detail and 32 minifigures, sparking a lively debate among fans over whether it's brilliant innovation or a pricey compromise.
Right, so apparently LEGO's been cooking up something truly monstrous in their digital cauldrons, and it’s spilled all over the internet. You know that feeling when you're meticulously planning a complex spell, and then suddenly, *poof*, half of it appears right in front of you, but in a totally unexpected form? Yeah, that's pretty much what just happened with a rumoured new LEGO Star Wars Death Star set. And fair warning, mate, it sounds like it's going to cost a grand. Literally.
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared. Leaked images – thanks to folks like FLYGUY on X (formerly Twitter), amongst others – have seemingly unveiled an enormous new Death Star. We're talking 9,023 pieces, which, if you're counting, puts it firmly in the 'you'll need a bigger table and possibly a small mortgage' category. The whispers suggest this behemoth will set you back a cool $1,000 (around R17,500.00 for our friends in South Africa, apparently) and is slated for an October launch. My bank account just had a minor Force choking incident.
Now, here's where it gets interesting, and where my gentle skepticism meter started twitching. Unlike previous, more spherical Death Star models we've seen, this new iteration isn't a full planet-destroying orb. Oh no. This one's a cross-section. Imagine slicing the Death Star clean in half, like a very large, very dangerous grapefruit. This design choice, according to the leaks, is to let LEGO pack in an insane amount of detail – numerous rooms, corridors, and enough Star Wars Easter eggs to make a Krayt Dragon blush. Think less 'battle station exterior' and more 'Imperial office block, but with a superlaser'.
Reaction to this 'half-a-Death-Star' approach has been, shall we say, mixed. Some folks reckon it’s a stroke of genius, offering unparalleled interior detail for your dollar, essentially giving you a super-sized playset crammed with iconic scenes. Others are grumbling that LEGO is shortchanging fans by only giving them half the design, arguing that a full sphere is the iconic representation. And you know what? Both sides have a point. Are we getting more bang for our buck in terms of intricate storytelling moments, or is it a clever way to justify a colossal price tag without delivering the 'whole' shebang? It’s like being promised a fully functional Force lightning bolt, but only getting the spark. Still impressive, but you were expecting the whole kaboodle, weren't ya?
So, what exactly do you get for your thousand shiny credits? Well, the enormous set reportedly includes more than a dozen smaller areas that will be instantly familiar to any Star Wars fan who's spent far too much time watching Rebels reruns (like me). We're talking the Emperor's throne room, the Death Star laser control center (because someone's gotta push that big red button), the famously malodorous garbage compactor, and of course, the shuttle bay – complete with an entire Lambda-class shuttle nestled within. And let's not forget 'that area where Luke gets to swing across holding Princess Leia and look very heroic.' Ah, nostalgia.
But the true treasure, for many collectors, will likely be the reported contingent of 32 minifigures. Thirty-two! That's almost a small army. Expect multiple versions of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia (presumably in various states of distress or triumph), plus all the usual suspects like Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2. But then things get spicy: Emperor Palpatine (with a fancy new hat element for the Imperial Dignitaries, apparently!), Darth Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, and even some Rogue One deep cuts like Director Orson Krennic and Galen Erso. My personal favourite on the list? Admiral Motti, the poor bloke who gets Force choked in *A New Hope*. And hold on to your astromech droids, Clone Wars fans, because Colonel Wullf Yularen is apparently in the mix too. Oh, and did I mention the 'Hot Tub Stormtrooper' variant? Yes, you read that right. I'm not quite sure what Imperial regulations permit a hot tub on a battle station, but I'm intrigued.
Just on its own, if these leaks hold true, this new Death Star will clock in as the fourth-largest LEGO set of all time by piece count. It's behind the company’s truly colossal LEGO Art World Map (11,000 pieces!), the LEGO Icons Eiffel Tower, and the LEGO Icons Titanic sets. Three other LEGO Star Wars sets already feature in the top 10 biggest sets: the UCS LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon (a personal favourite, because who doesn't love a bit of smuggler chic?), the LEGO Star Wars AT-AT, and the LEGO Star Wars Razor Crest. It's Expelliarmus to the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle, though, as that once-mighty 6,020-piece set gets shunted out of the top running. Poor Dobby.
Whether all this is enough to convince you to part with $1,000 for the privilege is, mate, something we’ll leave up to you. (Or maybe you fancy buying two sets, just to make that Death Star sphere complete? Now that's what I call committing to the bit!) LEGO is still to formally announce this monstrous new Death Star set but, judging by the flurry of leaked images, it won't be long now. I'm genuinely curious to see the official reveal and hear LEGO's own spin on this intriguing design choice. Will it be a truly revolutionary display piece, or just another way to drain our wallets in the name of the Empire?
This article draws insights from a report originally published by IGN South Africa. Thank you, Tom Phillips, for the early heads-up on this Imperial leak.
Tags: LEGO, Star Wars, Collectibles, Gaming Culture, Toy News
Original article: IGN South Africa