I heard LEGO will stop printing build manuals and drive people to use their mobile app. I tried it out on the last build and it was… incredible?

Perfect zoomable 3D models of every piece, every change highlighted, no guesswork and with difficult steps you can zoom in to eliminate mistakes

This might be the first time in a long time something that sounded like a worse experience was superior in every way. I thought LEGO was using “let’s save the environment” to drive engagement but instead, it’s actually a way better tool to help you build better.
@mathowie it's good but doesn't it also makes some of these models a lot less accessible to low income kids without sufficient technology on hand? "Progress at what cost" comes to mind.
@mathowie great. I hate it. Undoubtedly they'll want me to login for this. Later maybe charge for access? #enshittification
@urig it doesn’t require a login but if you provide one, they give you more features like build stats and a library. It’s really not Enshittified!

@mathowie @urig

Have to disagree... The beauty of Lego is having an activity which does NOT require a screen

@mathowie I prefer printed build manuals; not because they're better (they aren't) but because the mobile app will be on a device that is distracting because there's also other apps on it.

@mathowie been using this on iPad for the past couple years (it’s been available for most sets alongside the printed manuals). It’s great!

My favorite part is being able to put it on a stand and it doesn’t flop over like most of the paper ones 😂 Also way less random glare from whatever lights are on in the room. It always feels so unavoidable with the glossy paper they use.

@mathowie The app is a pretty good experience for building, especially for when the flat page isometric view is confusing on paper for alignment.

*BUT* the LEGO instructions were some of the first “books” my daughter got to “read.” She could follow steps and knew when the page was done and could turn it herself.

While not the same, the airline safety cards were similarly fun instructions. But it was also the “story” of a water landing and escape that kids could “read.”

@mathowie Boy, I hope not—that would be a much worse experience for children. The age of getting into Lego is (or *should be*) well before the age before a kid has a mobile device!
@mathowie I'll have to ask my kid about this when he gets home from school. Sounds like a good topic for his Lego blog. :)
@mathowie Yeah, it's great! Even when a set comes with the paper manual, the kids ask to use the app instead.
@mathowie This good to know because I recently had a complex kit fall off a shelf (the TV that comes with the NES set) and have no idea how to put it back together because I tossed the book long ago