“Our initial vision for LEGO Digital Designer back in 2002 was to make building on a computer accessible and fun for children – to play with and share their creations online.” said Ronny Scherer, producer of the first-generation LEGO Digital Designer. “I am so impressed with how the community of creators has evolved. Builders-enthusiasts and professionals alike-have used LDD in wonderful and unexpected ways. Now after almost twenty years since its conception and eighteen years in distribution, LEGO Digital Designer will retire and pass the mantle to BrickLink Studio as the officially supported and maintained 3D building application. It has played a prominent role in various offerings, from LEGO Factory, LEGO Design ByME, LEGO video games and movies. LDD pioneered real-time rendering of LEGO bricks, virtual brick connectivity, and the compact LEGO Exchange file format (LXF) which made LEGO models built in LDD light and portable. LEGO Digital Designer was released in 2004 as the LEGO Group’s 3D building tool. While downloaded versions of the LDD application will continue to work, people are encouraged to download BrickLink Studio, import their LDD files, and use Studio for 3D LEGO building files, and use Studio for 3D LEGO building.

The LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) website will close on January 31st, after which time LDD will no longer be available for download. Today, the LEGO Group announces that BrickLink Studio will replace LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) as the official virtual LEGO building software going forward.

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