Pac-Man has become the latest video game icon to be immortalized in Lego as the dot-munching circle is getting his very own set to celebrate turning 43. The new Lego Icons Pac-Man Arcade set is a recreation of the original game’s very first arcade cabinet, complete with a separate model of its main character with two of its ghosts. There’s even a tiny version of the machine being played by a Lego minifigure.
The set, which is made up of more than 2,600 pieces, is launching to mark the 43rd anniversary of Pac-Man’s reveal. In fact, May 22, 1980, was the day Pac-Man was first revealed to the public. The game would start hitting arcades in Japan the following month and very quickly became a global phenomenon in the years that followed.
Lego and Bandai Namco have shared a number of Pac-Man facts to celebrate the unveiling of the new set, the most apt of which being that the yellow chosen for Pac-Man was actually inspired by the iconic color commonly associated with Lego bricks. Clearly a collaboration that was always destined to happen eventually, and a set that will be a hit with Pac-Man fans and Lego aficionados alike.
Although you won’t technically be able to play Pac-Man on the cabinet, winding the crank on the side of the machine will make the Pac-Man on-screen move around the maze, eating dots and chasing ghosts. You will also be able to turn another handle to make the Pac-Man and ghosts on top turn. The hero is chased by them when facing one way, and then Pac-Man turns to chase the now-blue ghosts when facing the other, the same effect as when the video game icon eats a power dot.
Other interactive elements of the set include a coin slot that turns red when pressed, just like the real thing, and the score at the top of the screen increases as you wind the aforementioned crank. There’s also the miniature version of the game being played by a minifigure which slots neatly into the back of the cabinet. The set launches on June 1, 2023, for Lego VIP members and will go on general sale three days later on June 4. It’s going to cost $269.99 if you want to add the set to your collection.
The reveal of Lego’s new Pac-Man set is a win fans of the series needed after the bad news broken by Nintendo last week. The studio confirmed Pac-Man 99 will be shut down and delisted later this year. You will need to have bought the game to continue playing its offline modes before the dates listed by Nintendo as the game’s services are gradually shut down over the coming months.
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