Lego says it wants to start to bring video game development in-house

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Challenges of Bringing Development In‑House

  • Spinning up a new game studio is described as very hard, and large budgets can make it worse: over‑hiring, bureaucracy, committee design, shifting goals.
  • Comparisons to Google, Amazon, and Microsoft: lots of money, but repeated failures or underwhelming results when trying to build first‑party games.
  • Creative leadership is seen as crucial: successful game teams are led by strong directors, not consensus‑driven processes like typical big-tech software teams.

Acquiring or Replacing Traveller’s Tales (TT)

  • One camp argues Lego’s best move is to buy TT, which already knows the Lego formula.
  • Others think TT isn’t the same studio anymore: multiple “eras,” talent attrition, engine rewrites, and a big slowdown in release cadence raise questions about what you’d really be buying.
  • A suggested alternative: identify and reassemble key individuals who made the classic games, rather than acquiring the whole org.

Lego’s Unique Position vs Big Tech

  • Some think Lego is better positioned than Google/Amazon: it understands toys, has a strong brand, and games function partly as marketing rather than pure profit centers.
  • Others argue Lego should start conservatively with “classic” Lego-style games to build internal expertise before attempting bold experiments.
  • Counterpoint: Lego should deliberately fund small, Lego‑fan indie teams to explore experimental concepts for years.

What Players Want from Lego Games

  • Strong nostalgia for older titles: Lego Star Wars (originals), Lego Island, Lego Alpha Team, Lego Universe, Lego City Undercover.
  • Repeated desire for a true “Lego Minecraft”–style creative sandbox; Lego Worlds and Lego–Fortnite are seen as partial or missed attempts.
  • Pitched ideas: physics‑driven building à la Tears of the Kingdom, small-planet exploration, digital versions of real sets with physics and unlocks, remasters of 90s/00s games, a new Lego City Undercover.
  • Some note a decline in fun in newer, flashier Lego games and hope in‑house development can recapture earlier charm.

Platforms, Kids, and Safety

  • Discussion of Roblox‑like platforms raises heavy concerns about child safety and moderation costs.
  • Experiences from other kids’ MMOs suggest any communication channel can be abused, implying Lego must either avoid open interaction or invest heavily in moderation.