LEGO Shuts Down Fan Project “Bionicle: Masks of Power” After Years of Development

🔥 The LEGO Group Issues DMCA, Halts Bionicle: Masks of Power Fan Game

In a move that has disappointed fans around the globe, The LEGO Group has officially issued a DMCA takedown to stop development of the fan-made project Bionicle: Masks of Power. The ambitious indie game — developed over several years by Team Kanohi — was set to bring the beloved Bionicle universe back to life in a modern, playable format.

This decision from LEGO has sparked major backlash from the Bionicle fan community, many of whom have been following the game’s progress since its early alpha phases.

🧱 What Was Bionicle: Masks of Power?

Bionicle: Masks of Power was a fan-developed action-adventure game inspired by the classic LEGO Bionicle toyline and lore. It aimed to recreate the original 2001 story arc and featured high-quality 3D environments, combat mechanics, and mask abilities — all built in Unreal Engine.

The game had no commercial ambitions; it was created purely as a labor of love for Bionicle fans, by Bionicle fans.

⚖️ Why Did LEGO Shut It Down?

According to a statement released by Team Kanohi, The LEGO Group issued a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice, requiring the team to cease all work on the project and remove existing content from the internet.

LEGO has not yet made an official public statement, but it’s believed the takedown was related to intellectual property concerns — even though the project was non-commercial. This has sparked debates about fan content vs. copyright enforcement across social media.

😢 How Are Fans Reacting?

The response from fans has been one of disappointment and frustration. Many see this as a missed opportunity for LEGO to embrace and support its most loyal fans, especially since Bionicle has been largely dormant as a brand in recent years.

On Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube, long-time Bionicle enthusiasts are expressing:

• Support for Team Kanohi and their years of dedication.

• Anger at LEGO’s decision, viewing it as a shutdown of creativity.

• Calls for LEGO to officially revive Bionicle in collaboration with fans.

🧠 What Happens Next for Team Kanohi?

Despite the shutdown, Team Kanohi remains passionate about game development. In their farewell post, they hinted at creating new, original projects inspired by the same passion and creativity behind Masks of Power.

“Though this chapter closes, we still love storytelling and game design. We’ll continue forward, building something of our own.”

Their community continues to support them, and many hope the team will launch a new IP that carries the spirit of Bionicle in a fresh, legally unencumbered way.