New set reveals and leaks (confirmed)
At San Diego Comic‑Con 2025 this week, LEGO made two major official reveals: the nearly 1:1 brick replica of the Nintendo Game Boy (421 pieces, US $59.99 / £54.99), available for preorder from July 24, launching October 1; and the LEGO Batman Arkham Asylum set (2,953 pieces, featuring 16 mini-figures at ~£269.99 or $299.99), arriving for Insiders on September 9, and general release September 12.
Alongside those, LEGO also previewed Stranger Things BrickHeadz sets (Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will) plus new Wicked theme releases: Glinda & Elphaba Visit Munchkinland (~US $69.99) and Emerald City Wall Art (~US $159.99), both shipping September 2025 – Jay’s Brick Blog.
So far, rumours for August include a pair of new Botanicals sets—Mini Bonsai Trees (10373) and Hibiscus (10372), plus seasonal builds like Jack‑O‑Lantern Pickup Truck (40822), Halloween Wreath (40825) and Day of the Dead Altar (40811), all targeted for August 1 launch.
August 1 confirmed drops
From the official LEGO wave releasing Friday, 1 August:
- 10358 Transformers Soundwave (with sound brick, Ravage + Laserbeak), ~1,505 pieces, priced ~£159.99 / €179.99 / US $189.99.
- Architecture 21063 Neuschwanstein Castle (3,455 pieces) at ~£239.99 / €269.99 / US $279.99.
- LEGO Star Wars wave: UCS AT‑ST Walker (75417), Juggernaut (75413), V‑19 Torrent Starfighter, Separatist MTT, Battle Pack, etc., all releasing 1 August.
- Creator 31171 Majestic Rhino with Birds (~US $59.99) joins the wild animals series.
- Seasonal designs: Arcade Machine (40805), Bonsai & Hibiscus, and Halloween seasonal icons like Altar of the Dead, Pumpkin Truck, Wreath, all drop 1 August.
Recommendations: what to pick up
If you’re framing your wishlist for 1 August:
- Soundwave (10358) is a must-have, high-tech retro vibe, sound brick, and classic nostalgia.
- Neuschwanstein Castle (21063) delivers architectural grandeur for collectors.
- From Star Wars, UCS AT‑ST (75417) stands out while the Republic Juggernaut (75413) has some debate over stability and price versus piece count.
- On a smaller budget? Botanical sets (Mini Bonsai, Hibiscus) or the Arcade Machine are fun impulse buys.
From 2025 so far, GamesRadar+ highlights LEGO Rivendell, Talking Sorting Hat, Super Mario Piranha Plant, and the smaller Millennium Falcon among the best sets of the year. Plus, the newly revealed Game Boy will almost certainly sit among top-tier collectibles.
Redmond’s Forge: Hauls and Builds
At Redmond’s Forge this week, Darren, Luke and Rose kept things local and LEGO‑festive:
- Monday 22 July saw “The Most Insane LEGO Haul Run Yet”: 10 pickups in one day across Dublin shops, capped off with McDonald’s, and included Harry Potter sets and seasonal promos gathered in lightning‑fast style.
- Tuesday 23 July featured the Templeogue Double Haul, with Harry Potter marketplace missions and midweek LEGO magic: boxes of modular kits, children’s themed builds, and Insider exclusives all turning up at the kitchen table redmondsforge.com.
At the kitchen table builds:
- Darren finished the Hogwarts Express – Collector’s Edition (76405) mid-week. A highlight of Harry Potter Weekend, built amidst movie marathons, barbecue and Quidditch posters, and watching Rose and Luke interact with the mini-figure details.
These builds were showcased with commentary on piece count, display impact, and how they fit into the Forge’s evolving museum-quality cityscape.
Reviews and Builds: What’s Rolling into Redmond Reviews
Recent Review Highlights (during this week or just prior):
- Artemis Space Launch System (10341): an awe‑inspiring Icons build with vertical drama, designed for display and with play elements built in.
- Hogwarts Express Collector’s Edition (76405): magical build with nostalgic steam-train charm, tied into family storytelling on the kitchen table.
- Attack on the Burrow (75980): lively, scene‑rich build capturing household chaos in minifigure form.
Also featured on Redmond’s Reviews this month (but built just before July 22): Viking Village (21343), Motorized Lighthouse (21335), Daily Bugle (76178) and earlier classics like Death Star (10188) and Jabba’s Sail Barge (75397), all built and reviewed at the Forge kitchen table with Luke and Rose contributing sparkle to each build.
What’s Next — Looking Ahead into August
- August 1 brings major drops: Soundwave, Neuschwanstein Castle, Star Wars wave, wild animals rhino, botanicals, arcade machine, and spooky seasonal sets.
- Pre‑order window: the Game Boy and Arkham Asylum hit preorder 24–25 July, so Redmond’s Forge is planning early picks to review in August.
- Upcoming coverage will include hands‑on previews of Botanicals GWP builds (Friendly Snails earlier in July) plus potential reviews of the Game Boy in autumn.
Quick Picks: What to buy this week
| Your priority | What to pick up |
|---|---|
| Budget-friendly luncheons or garden add-ons | Botanicals Hibiscus / Mini Bonsai (1 Aug) |
| Nostalgia and display impact | Game Boy pre-orders + Soundwave |
| Iconic architecture or Star Wars nostalgia | Neuschwanstein Castle or UCS AT‑ST / Republic Juggernaut |
| Seasonal decoration | Arcade Machine, Halloween Wreath or Pickup Truck |
Final Thoughts
July 22–28 has been one of the busiest weeks so far in 2025’s LEGO calendar: major reveals at SDCC, rumours crystallizing into confirmed 1 August launches, and non-stop hauls and builds at Redmond’s Forge. Darren, Luke and Rose powered through epic builds, the Hogwarts Express, Attack on the Burrow, and Artemis Space Launch System, amid everyday kitchen-table antics and storytelling.
Whether you’re hunting bargains on botanicals, lining up your preorder for Game Boy and Soundwave, or planning a Star Wars display with the new UCS wave, next week is going to be huge. Stick with us, you know Darren and team will be live‑posting their build experiences as each set drops.
Here’s to even more bricks, builds, and stories in the week ahead!
Darren, Luke & Rose at Redmond’s Forge
