2025 Has No Listings for Core Class but there are Listings for New Cartoon Line

Didn't buy any Core Class.

Very glad we got Mohawk when we did! He's an excellent figure so I'm bummed we won't see any more Bayverse cores.

So I guess there goes getting the other cassettes in the SS86 line, unless they're planned for a multipack.

I got a total of 6 Cores. Don't miss it much. I doubt the SIZE of the Cores will be gone though. The question is whether Hasbro will pack in 2/3 Core size figures into a Deluxe/Voyager package, or forcing fans to get multiple Voyager Soundblaster/Blaster figures to get the rest of the cassettes at Leader price.

I wish Hasbro will do the decent thing and keep the Cassettes in 2-packs at Deluxe, the Minicons Team trios in Voyager.

They are probably going to return under a different name/designation.

They will just be released under deluxe class/pricing :/ no loss to me but they did have some fun figures. Thrid party is amazing on the core/legends class for the most part but I don't even buy those either.

Reminder that we do have a pretty good idea of what's coming in 2025 for both lines and there's really no indication of Core 2-packs in them. Things are always subject to change of course (still waiting to see where that cancelled Deluxe SS Drift from the upcoming 2024 wave turns up), but it seems unlikely to be next year.

Studio Series 2025
13 Primes 2025

Emerje

I can't say I'm shocked. The smaller figures from prior lines, like the War for Cybertron Micromasters, Battle Masters, etc, were also pretty poor sellers, and these are the only figures that always seem to be on the pegs at the various Targets and Wal-Marts in my area as well. Only a handful ever seemed to sell well, and they were the major characters from various series (Rattrap, Optimus Prime, Soundwave), the rest just kind of rotted. I'm already sick of seeing pink Camaro "Laserbeak". I still see freaking Dracodon from time to time, and he was released 3 years ago.

I remember there was discussion a few years ago about how old-fashioned GI Joe o-ring figures cost almost the same to design and produce as their larger 6-inch Classified figures, but people expected them to be cheaper because they are significantly smaller, so Hasbro just didn't consider that line worth continuing, and indeed they don't really make those figures outside of the occasional Transformers collaboration crossover anymore. I wonder if there's something similar happening here.

Spider5800 wrote:I remember there was discussion a few years ago about how old-fashioned GI Joe o-ring figures cost almost the same to design and produce as their larger 6-inch Classified figures, but people expected them to be cheaper because they are significantly smaller, so Hasbro just didn't consider that line worth continuing, and indeed they don't really make those figures outside of the occasional Transformers collaboration crossover anymore. I wonder if there's something similar happening here.

That's entirely possible, it certainly wouldn't be the first time Hasbro has cut off their cheapest offering, often because over time they can no longer be made cheap enough to be sold at a price point that would be considered "cheap". Though, oddly enough, we've actually seen the MSRP on Core come down, peaking at around $13 and then falling back down to $10, which is pretty damn rare to see.

I think what's really happening is pushback from retailers. They aren't selling particularly well (which has more to do with the retailers overstocking than anything) and between all the lines with all their different size classes and price points Transformers take up a lot of real estate that might be better suited for things that sell may sell better. Look at retail right now: 4 price points for Legacy (not counting CC and Titan since those aren't always sold at retail), 4 points for Studio Series, at least 6 price points for Earthspark, and another 6 or so price points for Rise of the Beasts. That's a lot! It's really no surprise that some cuts are coming.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:That's entirely possible, it certainly wouldn't be the first time Hasbro has cut off their cheapest offering, often because over time they can no longer be made cheap enough to be sold at a price point that would be considered "cheap". Though, oddly enough, we've actually seen the MSRP on Core come down, peaking at around $13 and then falling back down to $10, which is pretty damn rare to see.

I think what's really happening is pushback from retailers. They aren't selling particularly well (which has more to do with the retailers overstocking than anything) and between all the lines with all their different size classes and price points Transformers take up a lot of real estate that might be better suited for things that sell may sell better. Look at retail right now: 4 price points for Legacy (not counting CC and Titan since those aren't always sold at retail), 4 points for Studio Series, at least 6 price points for Earthspark, and another 6 or so price points for Rise of the Beasts. That's a lot! It's really no surprise that some cuts are coming.

Emerje

Makes sense. It probably also frees up production on Hasbro's end to make more stuff that actually sells as well. I know I would have preferred seeing more Studio Series Mirage's and Nightbird's available instead of piles of unsold core class Ratchet's and Ironhide's.

While I enjoyed buying the Core Class figures, I was anticipating this size class to die given the pegwarming of numerous 2022-now figures.

Spider5800 wrote:I know I would have preferred seeing more Studio Series Mirage's and Nightbird's available instead of piles of unsold core class Ratchet's and Ironhide's.

I've barely seen those cores in stores, I'm still swimming in wave 1 Legacy Cores. Target has United Cores, but that's it.

Emerje

Spider5800 wrote:I remember there was discussion a few years ago about how old-fashioned GI Joe o-ring figures cost almost the same to design and produce as their larger 6-inch Classified figures, but people expected them to be cheaper because they are significantly smaller, so Hasbro just didn't consider that line worth continuing, and indeed they don't really make those figures outside of the occasional Transformers collaboration crossover anymore. I wonder if there's something similar happening here.

Yet they make Four O-ring ghostbusters and sell them for cheaper than two 6 inch ghostbusters...doubtful.

what isn't as doubtful is the transformer pretender figures will never get a full line up in any size class they are thrown into :/

blackeyedprime wrote:

Spider5800 wrote:I remember there was discussion a few years ago about how old-fashioned GI Joe o-ring figures cost almost the same to design and produce as their larger 6-inch Classified figures, but people expected them to be cheaper because they are significantly smaller, so Hasbro just didn't consider that line worth continuing, and indeed they don't really make those figures outside of the occasional Transformers collaboration crossover anymore. I wonder if there's something similar happening here.

Yet they make Four O-ring ghostbusters and sell them for cheaper than two 6 inch ghostbusters...doubtful.

what isn't as doubtful is the transformer pretender figures will never get a full line up in any size class they are thrown into :/

I mean, it probably helps that the Ghostbusters figures are using an identical body from the neck down. All they really need for those is unique heads. A lot cheaper to design those when all four are using the SAME design.

The verbiage here is a little confusing;

"The replacement for it is already in the works..."...
The way I'm reading that doesn't mean that the new line taking the place of Earthspark is going to be related to a cartoon. I don't keep up on the cartoon/show news, nor am I on the cartoon rumor mill, so maybe I'm wrong and the this new line is in fact based on another new show. Is there going to be a TFOne spin-off show?

To me this wording reads that there's a line of figures ready to go, period. Of course, if not related to a cartoon show, then what is the basis for this new line?

No, (rends shirt) Nooo, (causes random objects in the room to shake) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Eh, what are ya going to do?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:No, (rends shirt) Nooo, (causes random objects in the room to shake) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Eh, what are ya going to do?

You'll be fine! There'll be plenty of new one steps coming in the new year.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:No, (rends shirt) Nooo, (causes random objects in the room to shake) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Eh, what are ya going to do?

You'll be fine! There'll be plenty of new one steps coming in the new year.

Emerje

That's the only thing keeping me going.

Late to the party on this one I guess, but...kind of a shame. I've always had a soft spot for Core class or its equivalents. Wonder if we'll see something like two-packs at Deluxe pricing down the road or something else down the road.