The Hidden Cost of LEGO

LEGO's shelves look very different than they did 25 years ago. Star Wars. Harry Potter. Marvel. DC. Fortnite. Licensed themes now dominate the lineup — and original worlds like Castle, Classic Space, and Pirates have almost completely disappeared. In this video, I'm breaking down how that happened, what it's costing you as a fan, and what got lost along the way. We'll cover: 📦 The "IP Tax" — why licensed sets cost ~20% more per piece than original sets 💸 How much LEGO is spending on licensing fees every year 🏰 Why Castle, Classic Space, and Pirates keep getting shelved 🧱 How licensed themes changed the way kids actually play with LEGO 🔮 Whether original themes are ever coming back This is a follow-up to my LEGO shrinkflation video — if you haven't seen that one yet, check it out after this. Drop a 🏰 for Castle or a 🚀 for Classic Space in the comments. Let's see which side wins.