Hasbro announces another round of layoffs, cutting about 150 jobs, or 3% of its global workforce. Exvee hosts while Brian is out, and the crew debates what an IP-focused Hasbro means for Transformers. Transformers is coming to PUBG Mobile, and the Infantry x Transformers modular watch Kickstarter blows past its goal. Mark’s Instagram spotlights Micronus Prime and Venin, and in-hand photos show a heavily retooled Studio Series Perceptor. In What We Got This Week, Don and Diecast tackle the Hearts of Steel set, and Matt finds Dr. Wu’s Decibel won’t stay combined.
News
Exvee opens with happy news from Garry Chalk, who posted an update in a short YouTube video. The crew calls him a great presence in the fandom, and RFC interviewed him years ago. One host argues Beast Wars helped save the franchise, and Garry was part of that. One host calls Beast Wars a Hail Mary that Kenner hit out of the park. [Source: Transformers Live]
Hasbro Announces Another Round of Layoffs
According to USA Today, Hasbro is cutting about 150 jobs, which it calls 3% of its global workforce. One host calls the official explanation corporate doublespeak for weak finances. Diecast notes an IP company may simply need fewer people. The crew points to licensed Transformers products everywhere, including Mattel’s $80 transforming Hot Wheels Optimus Prime, which Don got as a gift. One host hopes Takara Tomy’s co-ownership keeps the toys in-house. Diecast calls the cuts premature, while another host says tariffs are a convenient excuse for cuts Hasbro wanted anyway. [Source: USA Today]
Transformers Is Coming to PUBG Mobile
Transformers is coming to PUBG Mobile, and the press release says players can actually transform. One host explains PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds as the game that popularized the shrinking-map battle format Fortnite borrowed. He wonders how transforming affects game balance. He also notes Hasbro tends to arrive two to three years late to a fad. [Source: Tformers]
Infantry x Transformers Modular Watch Kickstarter Is Live
The Infantry x Transformers modular watches let owners swap bands and bezels without tools. The Kickstarter set a goal of $2,547 and is near $16,000 with 28 days left. One host suspects the campaign is mostly advertising. Another finds the purple-banded Megatron watch okay, but not at about $300. Don says you can buy a really good Timex for that. [Source: TFW2005]
Mark’s Instagram post on Micronus Prime shows the power armor holding the Mini-Con, the removable power disc and the arm weapons. The wheel comes off as a shield, or a stool for the Mini-Con. One host preordered it and loves the triple reference to Armada, Fall of Cybertron and Robots in Disguise 2015. Another calls it a Mega Pretender of sorts and ordered two. A third spots a Tron reference in one photo. [Source: Instagram]
Mark Spotlights Venin, the Last Deluxe Insecticon
Mark also posted Venin, the last of the deluxe Insecticons, who turns out to be a cicada. One host explains the deluxe Insecticons were licensed from another company, which kept them out of the cartoon. Don found all of them except Chop Shop at a Roses store. It took him seven years to find Chop Shop. [Source: Instagram]
Studio Series Perceptor and Cassettes Multipack In Hand
In-hand photos show the Studio Series Perceptor and cassettes multipack. Perceptor’s torso has been heavily retooled, about 10% wider, and the tank mode reportedly no longer works. One host guesses the changes were tooled together with the new cassette add-on parts. He calls the opaque scope a crime. Another says Ramhorn looks far more solid than Steeljaw. One host passed on it in favor of the Titans Return Ramhorn. [Source: Snakas Blog]
What We Got This Week
Don
Don got Shrapnel and Kickback on sale at Amazon and is keeping them boxed. He also got the Transformers Volume 1 compendium, which places Headmasters 1 through 4 in reading order. The Transformers x Sonic the Hedgehog Blue Booster and Wingtail set cost him $35 on sale, with clever but tight engineering. In the Hearts of Steel set, Optimus Prime’s train mode is frustrating, and Don rates Starscream the better of the two.
John DeLuna
John had nothing in Transformers this week. While thinning his collection, he found his copy of Transformers: Devastation for PS4, which is climbing fast in value.
Rob Clay
Rob’s pickups were non-Transformers birthday gifts.
Matt
Matt finally got Studio Series 86 Bonecrusher and immediately ordered the DNA upgrade kit for his tiny forearms. He also got the Generation 1 deluxe Optimus Prime, which scales well with the Earthrise Optimus Prime trailer. Dr. Wu’s Decibel set, Noise and Graffy, is great as individual cassettes, but the combined mode won’t stay together. Another host says the ball-joint connectors vary widely from unit to unit.
Diecast
Diecast also got the Hearts of Steel set and loves Starscream, though his was missing a foot piece and he has emailed Hasbro. At Ollie’s he found Studio Series 86 Brawn for $12.99, Core Class Ironhide and Terrorcon Freezer. He also got a Studio Series Arcee and Sideways two-pack for $19.98. His last pickup is a knockoff Studio Series 86 Optimus Prime for vehicle mode.