2023 is off to a roaring start with the return of a beloved LEGO Space faction – Blacktron! LEGO.com has just unveiled 40580 Blacktron Cruiser, an upcoming LEGO Gift with Purchase that will likely be available in January 2023, alongside all the new 2023 releases!
Update: check out my review of 40580 Blacktron Cruiser to see more of the set, including the updated Blacktron 1 minifigure!
40580 Blacktron Cruiser is a gift with purchase (GWP), and will be available from 1 – 14 January from LEGO.com or your local LEGO Store, with a purchase threshold of US$190 AU$310 / €190 / £170.
40580 Blacktron Cruiser is a modern reimagination of 6894 Invader, a medium-sized Blacktron 1 ship which was released in 1987, fuelling more LEGO nostalgia.
I cannot explain just how good the box art looks, along with the grid space background. It just oozes late 80s LEGO Space nostalgia!
We even get a modern Blacktron minifigure, with a new torso, which is super exciting as some of these vintage Space faction torsos have become quite expensive on the aftermarket.
The set even comes with the Robot sidekick featured in the original Invader set.
Alas, most of the set’s decorations are stickers, so the Triforce Blacktron 1 logo are unfortunately not printed like the original.
And yes, LEGO did actually tease the coming of Blacktron in 10497 Galaxy Explorer, which has a Blacktron craft showing up on its radar, making this the perfect companion to the Galaxy Explorer!
I am beyond excited as Blacktron 1 is one of my favourite Space factions, so this comes as a massive but welcome surprise to me. Unbeknownst to me, I’ve spent a lot of 2021 and 2022 amassing Blacktron parts and ships, so I cannot wait to add this to my Blacktron base!
40580 Blacktron Cruiser is a gift with purchase (GWP), and will be available from 1 January – 14 February from LEGO.com or your local LEGO Store, with a purchase threshold of US$190 / €190 / £170.
What do you think of LEGO bringing back Blacktron? Let me know if you’re excited to pick this up in the comments!
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Hello, your link to your review of the New Gift 40580 Blacktron Cruiser Lego set is broken. I thought you might want to know, since I’m interested in reading your review. Thank you for your time and understanding.
Yeah, I noticed that too, although it still seems to be listed. Maybe it’s just a glitch…
Yeah, I’m going to try again a little later to see if it self corrects or is manually fixed. Either way I’m checking back after a bit of time has passed.
Look at all of the triforce bricks. Going to make some Zelda fans really happy.
Just bought the Jazz club and the tie bomber so the blacktron cruiser comes with it and I can’t contain mine excitement.
GWP?! Seriously? Why is Lego doing crap like that. Just release the damn set!
I love this theme. Blactron I is the first love you will never be able to forget.
In the last years they are able to do all sort of shitty prints in all the stupid bricks in city,friends and everywhere. Bricklink is full of new printed pieces and here they want to aim for collectors 30+. And they put stickers. They redesign it with new pieces and the put tiles on the wedge plate- back wing. Oh man. Only 2 positives. Tr yellow cockpit and minifig. Maybe the stuckers are good for custom. But still they can print and put sticker arch for custom build anyway.
It’s a more limited release, so prints aren’t as economically warranted. It’s not really a collector-based decision.
I have the original set (actually 2 cause I still have my brother’s). Got it for Christmas in ’88 and though the box and instructions are long gone the model is still in a box at my parent’s house.
All hail the mighty Tri-Force!
I’m already looking for the specific release day, I’d pre-order if I could. I have all the original 80s blacktron sets
It’s my birthday in January! So, this set couldn’t have arrived at a better time along with the TIE Bomber! However, I echo the sentiments expressed in comments that it’s bittersweet this is a gift with purchase.
Blacktron was my all time favorite Lego series. I definitely want this.
I love how reverently they re-imagine these retro sets. There must be temptation to “update” the originals with new parts, colours and techniques, but instead the sets become a true homage to their predecessors. Like others have commented I’d much rather these were retail sets, and I do hope Lego have manufactured enough for the inevitable demand.
Was never into Blacktron but this is just unmissable.
This set is cool.
Not the biggest fan of the forestmen hideout and this set being gwps. They should be widely released
Two thoughts:
I hate the sticker use here so much. That can’t be that hard to print. My fave space faction ever, do it justice please!!
Other thought—I hope the Galaxy Explorer->Blacktron tease means the Lion Knights Castle->Wolfpack tease comes true!
Yeah, not too hot on the stickers… BUT… you should be able to hopefully pick up some printed Blacktron elements (like the walls) on Bricklink to swap them out.
We definitely need Wolfpack. A Wolfpack Tower remake would be a dream come true! Forestmen need some competition!
Are Forestmen and Wolfpack really in opposing competion, though? What about that truce in ’96 where the Dark Forest alliance originated as a response to the vainglorious King of the Royal Knights’ mocking display of ostentatious wealth, removed from the general population? A dark part of history already forgotten?
I bought my daughter a mega set of the 4 core pokemon for $30 ish bucks, there’s probably 30 printed pieces that can only be used for those characters in that size, and they look excellent. Really get tired of stickers in sets that even cost over $400.
Hi Jay,
The threshold in Europe will be 150€. So maybe $150?
Sincerely, Bas
I’m seeing so many numbers thrown around, from 190 – 150, so I’m just gonna wait until official details get posted before I can share them!
GWP and stickers? Not gonna lie, kinda feels like a kick in the teeth
Unfortunately, for small sets like this, I doubt they have the budget to print new elements, as that’ll count as a new “element” being created. Just buy some old Blacktron parts on Bricklink and swap them out, like the walls for example!
Is the sloped nose piece the same one as the original used on 6894?
The walls on the cargo pod look like some kind of large flag pieces which would be completely different.
Looking forward to your review.
Yes, the nose tip of the ship is the same mold piece as from the original set. And yes, those are solid black flag panels with the Blacktron emblem sticker on it. What looks to be unique is the arrangement where the original had the pilot seated in front of the storage compartment as for the new one, the pilot is seated behind the compartment space and that this new one comes with a metal or element detector were the original didn’t. I too am excited for this new one.
I think if they were to do an M Tron set the Mega Core Magnetizer would be another highly anticipated reissue.
Oh god, I would die happy if we get a new M-Core.
Looking forward to news on threshold. The latest string of GWP have been excellent but such high thresholds! I wish they would make some of them available for purchase. They are excellent small sets. Got on the GWP train when the sailboat gwp came out. I love that one but was out of reach for many.
I suspect it’ll be high as this is quite a substantial set. That said, there should be enough new sets released on 1 January to help qualifying for this set be slightly less of a chore!
I sure hope this classic re-issue think keeps up! I can only imagine the Spyrius Robo Guardian or Saucer Centurion, and perhaps the Unitron base or Starhawk II, and I would love to see anything from Exploriens! Oh and M-Tron! We can never forget M-Tron!
Never forget M-Tron!!
So excited!!!!!!! Besides Ice Planet, Blacktron is my favorite space faction and I have wanted the Invader set for many years!
Dang. This really shouldn’t be a gift with purchase. Looks like I’ll miss out since I don’t need to buy other sets in January. Shoot!
OOOOOO Ice Planet! I sure hope they touch on every futuristic space theme. Every Single One is my favorite!
I’m so impressed that they’re following the Forest Hideout formula – update and slightly modernise the design while keeping it as close to the original!
Hmm, decent set on an initial first look,with a nice nostalgic retro box design, but stickers instead of prints, and an unknown paywall requirement makes me a bit cautious, even if Blacktron is an old favorite theme. I need some considering.
Stickers are an necessary evil here unfortunately, as I doubt they have the budget to print for a small GWP like this. I’d rather stickers vs no Blacktron at all. On the plus side, you can buy the old Blacktron parts on Bricklink and swap them out!
Still bit the bullet in the end, after having some VIP discount codes that would expire, and I found some decently interesting sets at sale. The Blacktron + Lunar Year Add-On incentive obviously worked…
So will this be a start of another theme or will it just be one set?
Likely just a nostalgic one-shot. Or at least one-shot in the sense of a theme getting occasional shoutouts, such as Classic Space and Black Falcons, but it won’t be a fully rebooted theme…
Seems to be just the one set for now, as it’s a GWP, so it’s in its own “theme”. Because it’s a GWP (also known as LEGO Extended Line), they have far broader leeway to do stuff like this, as it wouldn’t normally fall under other themes, except maybe Icons.
This looks dope! Why’d it have to be a GWP though :/
To convince people to part with money for full-priced sets on 1 January. They know exactly what they’re doing!