PoweredUp Retiring?

[Phil B]

Someone on Reddit noticed that several key PoweredUp train components are marked as Retired on the Australian LEGO site. This includes the hub (88009), the train motor (88011) and the color sensor (88007). I have checked the same on the US site and these components are either backordered until the end of March, or "Sold Out" (and not "Temporarily Out of Stock"). Does anyone have any idea of what LEGO is cooking up? PoweredUp was introduced 6 years ago (2018), and after initially being meh on it, it has really grown on me, especially with PyBricks.

I placed a few orders to get more stock of the key components, but curious to understand what is happening.

[Lok24]

4 minutes ago, Phil B said:

marked as Retired on the Australian LEGO site. This includes the hub (88009), the train motor (88011) and the color sensor (88007).

Strange, they are marked " Temporarily out of stock" 

[idlemarvel]

On UK Lego siite (lego.com/en-gb) nothing in the powered up range is marked as retired or retiring soon, but most items are out of stock including the remote and move hub, both of which had a hefty 40% sale discount. The (Smart) Hub, Technic Hub and Battery Box sre all available.

On the description of the Hub it has a line which reads "Software Security Updates at Least Through 2027". Make of that what you will.

[dr_spock]

They are showing "backorder" on the Canadian site.  It's possible someone could have set them to the wrong code in their system. Or Australia decided to stop offer that product for whatever reason. 

[a_clay_brick]

88006 Boost Hub

88007 Colour & Distance Sensor

88008 Medium Linear Motor

88010 Remote Control

88017 Large angular motor

 

These ones are retiring this year. Source

 

There are many more that are not.

Edited December 27, 2024 by a_clay_brick

[JopieK]

I saw that the remote was indeed also discounted by 40% (and in NL unavailable now).

[Wimmer]

3 hours ago, Phil B said:

Someone on Reddit noticed that several key PoweredUp train components are marked as Retired on the Australian LEGO site. This includes the hub (88009), the train motor (88011) and the color sensor (88007). I have checked the same on the US site and these components are either backordered until the end of March, or "Sold Out" (and not "Temporarily Out of Stock"). Does anyone have any idea of what LEGO is cooking up? PoweredUp was introduced 6 years ago (2018), and after initially being meh on it, it has really grown on me, especially with PyBricks.

I placed a few orders to get more stock of the key components, but curious to understand what is happening.

I noticed the same yesterday !… the 88009 hub is heavily discounted on the US site, and won’t ship until March. 
I ordered two of them for the $35.00 price. 
But it’s the second time in just over a month that they are “on sale” ?…

 

It would suck incredibly if Lego decided to do something completely different again. And it would make them look like fools if they backtrack to PF ?

So I second this, I’m slightly worried about this happening right now. 
I just bought some keybricks as well to power these hubs way more efficiently. 
Not cheap, but so much better and easier than batteries. 

Edited December 27, 2024 by Wimmer
Spelling

[Wimmer]

4 hours ago, Phil B said:

Someone on Reddit noticed that several key PoweredUp train components are marked as Retired on the Australian LEGO site. This includes the hub (88009), the train motor (88011) and the color sensor (88007). I have checked the same on the US site and these components are either backordered until the end of March, or "Sold Out" (and not "Temporarily Out of Stock"). Does anyone have any idea of what LEGO is cooking up? PoweredUp was introduced 6 years ago (2018), and after initially being meh on it, it has really grown on me, especially with PyBricks.

I placed a few orders to get more stock of the key components, but curious to understand what is happening.

The remote control is sold out in the US after a 40% (!) discount. I would have gotten one of those if I knew earlier ???

I really wonder what is going on ?

Cargo train is Sold Out as well in the US after a 20% discount. That would have been nice for (just) $159.00 !  Missed that one too…

I wonder if they will bring a new Cargo Train again in 2025 ?

Edited December 27, 2024 by Wimmer
Addition to post

[CaL]

On the German Language version of the shop, the remote and the train motor are marked “sold out”. But only the remote was discounted.

 

The hub is still available for I think the regular price = 49.99 €.

 

The colour & distance sensor is also available for a regular looking price…

 

 

[JopieK]

So we could have known that there would be some changes coming?!

[Toastie]

2 hours ago, Wimmer said:

It would suck incredibly if Lego decided to do something completely different again.

"There are unsmiling faces and bright plastic chains, and a wheel in perpetual motion" ...

Who knows, what TLG comes up with - maybe a PUp extension, new cool PUp devices speaking the LWP3 protocol - and maybe something entirely new. They have done it in the past, they will do it again. To improve, of course!

There were the 4.5V, 12V, 9V systems. Then came PF and then PUp. Along with all the cool non-compatible plugs and sockets for NXTs and the like. 2 wires, then 4 wires, even 6 ... all these control lines to make them devices smarter than ever.

Well, I am about to throwing out all the PF and PUp stuff. It was really a nice experience! Cool functions, lots of things to learn. But actually - in more than 60 years, I actually never fully exploited even the 4.5V system. Recently got myself a Code Pilot controller for next to nothing. This thing understands and speaks the VLL protocol, has 9V sockets and ... sorry, I am telling you guys what you always knew; old fart's nostalgia.

TLG is putting up another smoke screen? That seems to be part of their business. So be it. I go full Boomer stuff. "Only used LEGO is good LEGO", says Thomas Panke; I tend to agree more and more.

And then: There is BL, eBay, etc. pp.; don't worry, used PUp is good PUp. It will be there for decades. After decades, other decades will come.

All the best,
Thorsten

[Murdoch17]

2 hours ago, Toastie said:

"There are unsmiling faces and bright plastic chains, and a wheel in perpetual motion" ...

"...and they think it will make their lives easier
But the doorway before them is barred..."

(good song choice, @Toastie. I've actually seen Alan Parsons in concert and he played this song-series) But anyway, more to topic:

I do not look forward to (yet another) silly system to power LEGO creations. 9V was the one of my childhood, and that was so good that even the LEGO house uses it in their displays! But what do I know? I don't normally power my creations due to the lack of space for battery box, motors, and so on. Hover, on rare occasion I can do so, 9V is the only system I build compatibility for into my trains.

Simply put: PF was okay, 9v was better, 12v was the best (but not available in the states), 4.5v exists, RC sucks and so does PU.

Edited December 28, 2024 by Murdoch17

[Toastie]

49 minutes ago, Murdoch17 said:

Simply put: PF was okay, 9v was better, 12v was the best (but not available in the states), 4.5v exists, RC sucks and so does PU.

You nailed it. Here is to feeling good!

Yeah, they were in Germany as well, and I was there - played the vinyl uncountable times. There is so much more "in it" ...

All the best,
Thorsten

[M_slug357]

I'm not ready for A.I. powered slop in my lego

PF > PU > PAi

 

[mahjqa]

53 minutes ago, M_slug357 said:

I'm not ready for A.I. powered slop in my lego

PF > PU > PAi

 

You're just making up random nonsense to get mad at.

[Lok24]

9 hours ago, Murdoch17 said:

Simply put: PF was okay, 9v was better, 12v was the best (but not available in the states), 4.5v exists, RC sucks and so does PU. 

12V was the worst system for children by far.
PU is the best of all of them with all it's facilities and possibilities.

Why does it "suck"?

 

[JopieK]

16 minutes ago, Lok24 said:

12V was the worst system for children by far.
PU is the best of all of them with all it's facilities and possibilities.

Why does it "suck"?

 

We miss all the 12V turnouts / signals / decouplers / automated level crossings / etc from the 1980 era. For us adults we work around it but for children it a shame.

LEGO uses a TI microcontroller in Powered Up, I hope they move to e.g. STM32 which makes it easier to extend the custom firmware options :)

@M_slug357, I would think that some basic AI would be very useful, e.g. for improving sensor stuff and detecting engines etc.

[Toastie]

5 minutes ago, JopieK said:

from the 12V era

We also miss the various individual cars, locomotives, buildings ... a train theme is so much more than a programmable fancy electronics system consisting of a) a reiteration of freight trains and b) of 1/2 high-speed passenger trains.  Entire 1 and 1/2 trains, that is.

I have and still have my fun with PUp; but I am getting tired of it ... mostly because in my world of LEGO, true remote control or wireless access is not required. I like to wire a nicely flexible cable to a motor ... It's my personal view/world only. And yes, I get it: Train is a niche theme, PUp can be used across themes, if you don't get it, MOC it, and so on and so forth. 

Best,
Thorsten     

[Lok24]

16 minutes ago, JopieK said:

For us adults we work around it but for children it a shame.

How did you make a 12 V layout with 3 turnouts and signals on the floor, with all these cables?
How long would it take to set this up? How easy a child could do this?  And how to be modified?

And how to clean away?

I don't miss anything, and the children (5 and 7 years)  like to operate signals and turnouts manually  and follow the train on it's way with the remote in their hand (ii.e. to another room).
Two or more can play on the same layout simultaneously. 

Edited December 28, 2024 by Lok24

[JopieK]

57 minutes ago, Lok24 said:

How did you make a 12 V layout with 3 turnouts and signals on the floor, with all these cables?
How long would it take to set this up? How easy a child could do this?  And how to be modified?

And how to clean away?

I don't miss anything, and the children (5 and 7 years)  like to operate signals and turnouts manually  and follow the train on it's way with the remote in their hand (ii.e. to another room).
Two or more can play on the same layout simultaneously. 

I hear your / see your point. Must have been the young engineer in me already :) It also had its perks indeed.

[Andy Glascott]

I loved learning about circuits and the basics of electronics with wired Lego as a kid, both 4.5 and 12v. PUp has its benefits, I’ve programmed a tram to go back and forth on my layout (eventually), but kids also love seeing the red/green lights of the 12v signals and the train stopping/starting accordingly when I do a show and I love the hands on operation of the system. 

[zephyr1934]

8 hours ago, Lok24 said:

How did you make a 12 V layout with 3 turnouts and signals on the floor, with all these cables?
How long would it take to set this up? How easy a child could do this?  And how to be modified?

Most kids wouldn't have a large collection of lego trains either then or now (and none of THOSE kids are on this forum... oh... actually I guess I was one of them back then with one train set, one car, and some track sets). Any kid who did build a large collection they would also be developing their skills for working with all the wiring. There's clear evidence that Lego agreed with the view of "all these cables." The 12v system has features that were for more permanent layouts, e.g., the screw holes in the ties.

But the best thing about the gray 12v era was all of the selection and functionality available out of the box from sets, independent of the power scheme.

Each power system has it's own strengths (except maybe RC, I can't think of anything RC did better than the others). One standout with 4.5v is how the semaphores stopped trains.

[dr_spock]

My grandfather gave me a HO train set when I was a kid.  I ran it on the bedroom floor. Cleaning was part of the routine to keep it running well.  Had to teach myself to wire switches from the package instructions.  Also noticed that shorts caused the 120VAC to 18VDC power pack to smoke.  On the other hand, I have yet to get PowerUP! to smoke or shock myself.  I wouldn't mind LEGO going back to PF or 9V.  It was simpler and more practical for GBC modules with those stackable connectors. 

 

[XG BC]

imagine If they just went Back to 9v track powered, with some sort of dcc...one can dream.

[Lok24]

7 hours ago, dr_spock said:

It was simpler and more practical for GBC modules with those stackable connectors. 

PU is much simpler and much more practical for nearly all other issues .

Did you ever try GBC without any gear and fixed rpm?