The LEGO Group has ordered that the fan gameBionicle: Masks of Powerbe shut down, much to the disappointment of those looking forward to playing it someday.LEGO’sBionicleline was introduced in 2001 and featured buildable action figures and a surprisingly deep storyline of mystical heroes and ancient dark forces. It quickly became one of LEGO’s most successful and beloved non-licensed product lines, complete with a DC-published comic series, four animated movies, and games of varying quality.
Bioniclewould ultimately be discontinued in 2010 and, aside from a short-lived reboot in the mid-2010s and a few references here and there, has been relatively quiet since. Enter Team Kanohi, a group ofBioniclefans who set out to make their ownBioniclevideo game independent from The LEGO GrouptitledBionicle: Masks of Power. Announced back in 2021,Masks of Powerwould draw influence from recent open-world titles likeHorizon: Zero Dawnto retell the story of the original Toa Mata and their battle against the evil Makuta on the island of Mata Nui.
Unfortunately, it seems likeBionicle: Masks of Poweris being discontinued after eight years of development. In a message shared by Ganrokh onReddit, Team Kanohi has announced that the LEGO Group has asked it to shut down the development ofBionicle: Masks of Powerfor reasons unknown at this time. This news took Team Kanohi by surprise, as the developer had taken great care not to profit from the game in any way and to make clear that it isnot affiliated with LEGO. WhileBionicle: Masks of Poweris being shut down, Team Kanohi did release a walkthrough of the demo that would have launched on August 10.
Bionicle: Masks of Power Fan Game is Being Shut Down
In the past, LEGO has maintained good relations with fan-made video game projects and has even endorsed thesimilarBionicle: Quest for Mata Nuion its podcasts. As noted by Team Kanohi, LEGO’s stance on fan-created media seems to have changed, andBionicle: Masks of Powercould have been shut down out of fear that it could be mistaken for an official LEGO game.
Judging from what has been shown,Bionicle: Masks of Powerlooked incredibly polished, with Team Kanohi stating that its demo was in its finishing stages by the time The LEGO Group requested the project be shut down. With one less fan project seeing the light of day, thefuture ofBionicleremains in question, even as gamers look back fondly at the figure line that helped revitalize LEGO back in the 2000s.
WHERE TO PLAY
LIVE THE LEGEND• Be the heroic Toa and become the Toa of Light• Explore the Island of Mata Nui• Battle the forces of evil• Use your awesome elemental powers• Ride, glide, and surf through your adventure
