Unique to the LEGO Star Wars licensed range of sets, the initial wave in the Microfighter subtheme was released in 2014 after a selection of chibi-style exclusives were made available during the summer convention cycle between 2012 and 2014.
Since then there have been 35 single and double-pack sets (not including the five different convention exclusives) inspired by vehicles and creatures from the Star Wars galaxy. While some series have been a seemingly random collection of vehicles, since 2016 – when Rebels was the core focus – each series has shown a modicum of attention to The Phantom Menace, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker.
The first three series, released between 2014 and 2016, had six Microfighter sets in each year, but 2017 and 2018 (including two double-packs) only saw four sets per year. That number was down to three per year in 2019 and 2020 (though one was a double-pack), and 2021 only had one single and a double-pack to it.
Landing of shelves in December 2021 in North America, and at the beginning of January 2022 in the rest of the world, 75321 The Razor Crest Microfighter formed part of the Winter wave of five LEGO Star Wars sets and was the only known Microfighter planned for 2022. Perhaps most importantly, it was the first Microfighter set not to have a series number attached to it.
With more than 50% of Microfighter sets drawing their source from the Original Trilogy, and the Prequel and Sequel Trilogy movies equally sharing the rest of the total, LEGO may have realized that the aging fan-base – which is predominantly catered for with the Ultimate Collector Series – isn’t interested in the Microfighter subtheme. If declining sales caused by the lack of Prequel and Sequel Trilogy sets aimed at children and fans in their 20s and 30s is a factor, it could be too late to revitalize the range.
All indicators point to this declining trend continuing in 2022 and suggest that LEGO is quietly wrapping up this line, much like they did with the Planetary subtheme, which ran for a quarter as long and delivered a third as many sets.
If this is indeed true, fans will have to create their own Microfighters, much like this modified N-1 Starfighter that is entirely – and appropriately – made of pieces from the most recent Microfighter set, 75321 The Razor Crest Microfighter!
What do you think? Has the Microfighters run their course or do you want to see them continued? What could LEGO be planning to replace them with? Share your thoughts in our comment section below.
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