LEGO Shuts Down Fan-Made Game ‘Bionicle: Masks of Power’

The LEGO Group has officially requested that 'Bionicle: Masks of Power', a fan-developed video game, cease development—leaving many long-time fans disappointed. The game, which was being created by indie team Kanohi, was a passion project inspired by LEGO’s iconic Bionicle toy line that originally launched in 2001.

Bionicle was a major success for LEGO during the early 2000s, featuring buildable characters, a rich storyline involving elemental warriors and ancient evils, and an expansive media presence—including comics published by DC, several animated films, and a handful of official games. Despite its popularity, the original line was discontinued in 2010, with a brief and less successful reboot arriving in the mid-2010s.

Team Kanohi, a dedicated group of fans, aimed to revive the Bionicle universe through a modern action-adventure game titled Masks of Power. First revealed in 2021, the game drew inspiration from open-world titles like Horizon: Zero Dawn, focusing on the original Toa Mata and their mission to defeat Makuta on the island of Mata Nui.

After nearly eight years of development, the project has now been forced to shut down. According to a Reddit post by team member Ganrokh, The LEGO Group issued a takedown request without offering a specific reason. Team Kanohi emphasized that Masks of Power was a non-commercial project and clearly labeled as unofficial, hoping to avoid such legal complications. The team had been preparing to release a playable demo on August 10, and while the full game will no longer be completed, they have released a walkthrough of the demo as a final tribute.

Changing Attitudes Toward Fan Games

This decision comes as a surprise, especially considering LEGO’s historically positive stance toward fan-made games. In fact, the company previously acknowledged a similar project—Bionicle: Quest for Mata Nui—on its official podcast. Team Kanohi speculated that LEGO’s change in direction might stem from concerns that Masks of Power could be mistaken for an officially licensed game due to its quality and polish.

Footage released so far had impressed many, showcasing detailed environments and refined gameplay systems. With the project now shelved, fans are once again left wondering what the future holds for the Bionicle franchise, which played a key role in revitalizing LEGO’s brand in the early 2000s.

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---Silviya.Y