You won't want to fight Vader with it, but you can swing this Lego lightsaber around without it breaking. Reading time 2 minutes Way back in 1999, Lego made an announcement that helped save the company: a collection of sets based on the original Star Wars ...

The new sensor-packed Smart Play Brick will land this spring as part of a special Star Wars collection. The update adds interactive lights and sound to the Lego experience—including the minifigs.

Lego’s Smart Bricks differ from earlier tech-enabled Lego products by using wireless charging pads (avoiding disposable batteries) and boasting batteries that will still perform after years of inactivity.

LEGO does not reinvent itself very often. It’s a toy company that has been iterating on the same idea for decades. It patented the LEGO Brick almost 66 years ago, and any piece you buy today will work with one that came out of the first mold in 1958.