The PopCult Toybox

NEXO logoLEGO previewed a new property, NEXO KNIGHTS, at New York ComicCon last weekend, and we have the details as NYCC attendees got the first-look at story, products and a gaming app.

LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS bridges physical and digital play with building sets, episodic content and digital gaming. This is a new, original LEGO property depicting a medieval kingdom set in a futuristic world where five young, brave knights “download” special powers to their shields in order to battle the royal court’s evil Jestro and a cast of monsters to restore peace.

The story comes to life through LEGO building sets, an episodic television and a digital gaming app that fuels story-driven gameplay. The property launches later this year, with products available starting January 1, 2016.

lego-nexo-knights“Inspired by insights to meet the emerging needs of today’s kids, LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS juxtaposes a timeless world of medieval knights with a futuristic twist in a captivating story that invites children to explore LEGO play in a whole new way,” said Casper Thingholm of the LEGO Group. “LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS offers children the rewarding building experiences they know and love, amplified by digital enhancements that merge what today’s kids love: self-expression, strong characters, deep content-driven story and digital gaming.”

A leaked image of one of the LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS sets to be released in 2016

A leaked image of one of the LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS sets to be released in 2016

The story is set in the futuristic, high-tech world of the Kingdom of Knighton, LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS follows five young knights in their quest to battle Jestro, his sidekick, the Book of Monsters, and their Lava Monster Army. Heroic knight, Clay Moorington, leads the band of knights, including alpha superstar Lance Richmond, hipster Aaron Fox, Macy Halbert, a princess who would rather be a knight, and Axl, the giant. Together, under the tutelage of Knights’ Academy mentor and Great Digital Wizard, Merlok 2.0, they join forces to defeat the enemy.

Fourteen richly detailed building sets will be available in January 2016, ranging in price from $9.99 to $99.99. Additional building sets will launch in August 2016. The first two sets were revealed at New York Comic Con.They are Jestro’s Evil Mobile – 658 pieces – $59.99 and Fortrex – 1140 pieces – $99.99.

Jestro's Evil Mobile

Jestro’s Evil Mobile

To extend the story and increase playing fun, more than 150 unique LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS powers – represented as shields – have been scattered across the kingdom of Knighton. The powers can be found in building sets, online, in print and directly in the television content. Existing in both physical and digital form, children can discover, scan and collect varied powers using the LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS: MERLOK 2.0 app. Once added to a digital power collection, children can creatively and continuously find new ways to join the knights to defeat the enemy, in their gaming experience.

Fortrex, the moving castle

Fortrex, the moving castle

Available in late December 2015, the LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS: MERLOK 2.0 app will be available as a free download via App Store, Google Play, Samsung Apps and Amazon Appstore.

LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS, is also a 20-episode, animated adventure comedy series that will debut on select global broadcast television networks as soon as late December 2015 and air throughout 2016. The core means by which children follow the story and get to know the characters, the series follows the constant adventures of LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS heroes and villains. Children will also be able to scan new LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS powers directly from their content viewing screen into their app games, further connecting their play experience.

This is not the first time LEGO has used Knights as the basis for a themed property, but it looks like they’ve loaded LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS with tons of high-tech updates and futuristic imagery to keep it fresh and exciting for kids. This is why LEGO overtook Mattel and Hasbro to become the number one toy company in the world.