Hasbro plans to lay off about 15% of its global workforce, roughly 1,000 people, and the crew asks what that could mean for future toy lines. On the brighter side, Hasbro’s Pulse streams reveal Legacy Evolution Metalhawk, Twincast and Skyquake, and the Rise of the Beasts mainline toys debut. Masterpiece MP-57 Skyfire shows up in hand, and Brian orders one on air. EarthSpark returns March 3 with Keith David as Grimlock. Plus Legacy Needlenose wins over Rob and Brian.
News
Hasbro to Lay Off About 15% of Its Global Workforce
About 1,000 jobs are going, and analysts have lowered their price targets on Hasbro stock. Brian asks everyone to remember that people’s lives are affected. The crew notes that CEO Chris Cox is moving away from Brian Goldner’s vision of a media company to focus on core brands. The crew thinks the 2024 slate is mostly set, but 2025 could look very different. One host suspects the new leadership is not a fan of owning Power Rangers. Paladin in the chat adds that delaying Rise of the Beasts a year probably did not help. [Source: Reuters]
Hasbro Pulse Stream: Legacy Evolution Reveals
Core Class Grimlock is the first piece of a Dinobot combiner that will take about a year to finish. Core Class Thundercracker has his own cannons, and Nemesis Prime uses the Kingdom Core Optimus mold, which the crew rates highly. The second Junkion is named Crashbar, with the facial hair of designer Mark Maher. Crosscut has red hands because they share a sprue with the wheels. Metalhawk is a partial retool of Cyclonus with plenty of new parts, though one host worries the shoulders carry over Cyclonus’s weak joints. Twincast uses the alternate smirking face. Skyquake looks like an excellent large toy and will also come in Prime Dreadwing colors. Needlenose docks with Skyquake, and the crew hopes for European Predator colors. [Source: BWTF]
Rise of the Beasts Toy Line Reveals
Scourge’s Mad Max-style truck mode impresses, though his robot mode needs more paint. Core Class Freezer acts as a weapon for Scourge. The mainline also includes a two-in-one Optimus Prime Nerf blaster, a gimmick Beast Mode Bumblebee, a mask assortment at $35 and Battle Changers. There are also Weaponizer two-packs, Smash Changers and Beast Combiners. The Battle Masters are $6 each, including Skullcruncher, Rhinox and Cheetor, and one host plans to buy them. Another is surprised the assortment returned after the last Battle Masters landed at Ollie’s. [Source: BWTF]
Masterpiece MP-57 Skyfire In Hand
Skyfire includes both Skyfire and Jetfire faces and tiny pilot figures of Wheeljack, Jazz and Optimus Prime. It stands taller than Commander Jetfire and is bigger than Masterpiece Ultra Magnus, at around $260. Brian orders one from Big Bad Toy Store during the show. Toy Dojo is shipping its copies by surface, with faster shipping for an extra fee. [Source: TFW2005]
EarthSpark Season 1 Resumes March 3, Season 2 on the Way
Keith David voices Grimlock. The crew rattles off his credits, from They Live and Gargoyles to Saints Row and Justice League. [Source: BWTF]
Rise of the Beasts Gets a Super Bowl Trailer
A Rise of the Beasts trailer is expected during the Super Bowl on February 12. [Source: Deadline]
Transformers-Themed Smartwatch for Kids
The kids’ watch has a Qualcomm chip, LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi and two small cameras. One host says his six-year-old mostly uses her phone watch to call her grandparents. [Source: Yanko Design]
What We Got This Week
Don used a Target gift card on EarthSpark Twitch. He got Nonnef upgrade kits for Crankcase’s shoulder missiles and for Pointblank, adding an engine, spoiler and new elbows. His Legacy Tarn arrived from Hasbro Pulse, and Big Bad Toy Store says Metalhawk and Twincast ship soon.
Rob got Legacy Needlenose from Amazon and loves how authentic the double Targetmasters are. He wants a new Scoop to match. He also found the Super7 ReAction prototype Unicron on eBay for about $20. It is a little more teal than he expected, and it is likely the only ReAction figure he will ever buy.
Brian agrees that Needlenose is lovely and says it could replace his G1 one. Hot Shot is just okay, and he regrets it. Core Class Soundblaster needs a red chest window, and Core Class Sludge’s robot mode suffers, though the dinosaur is fine. His Super7 Unicron stays sealed. He also got a Dark Amber Leo Prime from Amazon Japan but may sell it, since a Generations version is coming.