Studio Series discussion

[Steevy Maximus]

Looks like both Walmarts closest to me have dropped Studio Series. They both went through resets and there's no open spaces or shelf tags for any of it. Bummer.

My local Walmart just did the same thing and put a ton of BRAND NEW product on clearance. (Godzilla x Kong Monsterverse figures as well as TF) The TF section is currently just Earthspark and TF:ONE figures; meanwhile, other stores around have Age of Primes, new Studio Series, and even the Retro carded figures. I think some stores aren't setting their mods correctly, but I kind of doubt anyone who works there will care enough to catch it and fix it any time soon.

Yeah there's actually evidence that some Walmarts are just dropping Generations (at least from physical store shelves) entirely.

2025 Generations Listings (United Wave 5 + Age of the Primes)

He’s remembering how the CW toy did it. Based Yeah, I was going to say he has to be remembering how the toy did it. I’m fairly certain the G1 toy was...

www.tfw2005.com

From my experience working for the company back in the day…
Walmart is ALWAYS inconsistent. They’ve always tried to “tailor” their offerings to their markets. A general rule of thumb is that if you have more competition in a region, the more Walmart will carry to compete. But if you have a “one Wamart town”? That need to compete is gone, and they’ll do whatever they want. At my local one (which is in the middle of a big remodel, so who knows how things will shake out), while deluxe is fairly consistently carried, anything else comes at goes on a whim. One year they’ll have the entire Generations slate, the next year it’ll just be deluxe and Voyager with deluxe and leader Studio Series.

Further, they always expand the selections for Christmas, so I wouldn’t worry unless we see widespread abandonment this fall for the Christmas build up.

 

[Steevy Maximus]

The leaks have begun! Next year is the 40th Anniversary for the 86 film, so obviously, LOTS of G1.

2026 Studio Series Full Listings – TFOne Alpha Trion, 86 Shockwave, More!

We also now have the full listings for 2026 Studio Series thanks to TFW member Jtprime17! As always, it is important to note that these are subject to change. Have a look below and let us know what you think! Deluxe: Tra Gen Studio Series A Level Dlx Dev Bumblebee Product Number: G1925 Tra Gen...

news.tfw2005.com

Deluxe:
Tra Gen Studio Series A Level Dlx Dev Bumblebee
Product Number: G1925


Tra Gen Studio Series A Level Dlx TFone Orion Pax
Product Number: G1926
Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx TF5 Barricade
Product Number: G1928
Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx 86 Windcharger
Product Number: G1927
Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx 86 Sunstreaker
Product Number: G1930
Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx 86 Kranix
Product Number: G2195
Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx 86 Cliffjumper
Product Number: G2197
Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx TFone Thundercracker
Product Number: G2196
Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx TFone Arachnid
Product Number: G1929
Voyager:
Tra Gen Studio Series Voy 86 Skywarp
Product Number: G1931
Tra Gen Studio Series Voy 86 Thundercracker
Product Number: G2192
Tra Gen Studio Series Voy 86 Shockwave
Product Number: G2191
Tra Gen Studio Series Voy TFone Alpha Trion
Product Number: G1932
Leader:
Tra Gen Studio Series LDR 86 Soundwave
Product Number: G1904
Tra Gen Studio Series LDR 86 Astrotrain
Product Number: G2190
Tra Gen Studio Series LDR 86 Snarl
Product Number: G2188
Tra Gen Studio Series LDR TF5 Nemesis Prime
Product Number: G1905
Studio Series 86 30th anniversary Capsule:
Tra Gen SS 86 Anniversary Dlx Hound
Product Number: G2252
Tra Gen SS 86 Anniversary Voy Scourge
Product Number: G2249
Tra Gen SS 86 Anniversary Voy Hot Rod
Product Number: G2254

Tra Gen SS 86 Anniversary LDR Optimus Prime
Product Number: G2250

Thoughts:
-I expect A-Level Devastation Bumblebee and TFOne Orion Pax to be retools of the existing 86 Bumblebee and TFOne Optimus Prime.
-As much as it chaffs me to see so much repeat from recent products, I can’t argue there is definitely more than a few that should satisfy the market. Sunstreaker, not in a big multipack, the remaining 84 Seekers, a single release of Deluxe Hound, all should be solid sellers. That said, a LOT of that feels like minor changes or straight redeco to existing tooling. Enough to be noticeable to me and maybe point to some lesser investment in this segment, despite the anniversary.
-Hopefully, Hot Rod will be his toy colors. But just a refresh of the fantastic original wouldn’t be the worse thing ever, either.

 

[Haywire]

I kind of wonder if a lot of product isn't going to start going on end caps for more limited-time offerings; seems like they have rotated a lot of various Lego product on end caps, and I've seen other figures there as well. Walmart has a Cybertron capsule coming out this year, don't they? Maybe it will go on an end cap?

As it is, most of the hooks in the updated TF section are tagged for TFO Prime and Bee and Earthspark Megatron and Bee (which is odd, because those were on clearance until just recently), and a whole lot of gimmick figures. If the Earthspark figures staying on the mods means I'll actually see Deluxe Hashtag and Soundwave, then I guess that's okay, but it's going to make finding Studio Series (and AotP) a little trickier.

 

[unluckiness]

So is Windcharger going to be all gray and broken?

 

[LordGigaIce]

SS '86 Windcharger sounds great.... but I'm one of like five people who found the RtS version at retail and I really like that toy.

 

[lastmaximal]

A solo Hound, but still a likely exclusive in a capsule. Gonna be enjoyable to hear the whining about THAT.

Glad they're finally getting around to what might be a package refresh of Hot Rod, or really any return of that main mold to retail. Toy colors? Cel-shaded with no clear plastic? I'm keeping an eye out for it either way.

Kranix, whoa. Interesting.

Gonna be eager to see more of that TFONE Airachnid. Bit concerned about the Deluxe size. Please be good.

Skipping SS AOE Op for TLK Nemesis. Hope this one has some gunmetal paint, or at least a darker shade of silvery plastic that pulls off the look and doesn't wash out the sculpted detail.

SS86 Leader Op? Is this just the Commander sans trailer?

 

[LordGigaIce]

SS86 Leader Op? Is this just the Commander sans trailer?

Watch it be a Hasbro version of Dramatic Capture Optimus- ER with a Sunbow deco.

 

[lastmaximal]

Those are some nice colors on a solid mold.

Hmm. Or oh, the dead Op mold in just-before-dying colors for a battle damage release.

 

[Undead Scottsman]

Ouch, my poor wallet

Deluxe
-One Orion Pax
-TF5 Barricade (Maybe)
-Windcharger
-Sunstreaker (probably not, I have the 5 pack version)
-Kranix
-One Thundercracker (before Starscream?)
-One Airachnid (hell yeah!)

Voyager
-Skywarp
-Thundercracker (Glad to finally fill out those two after missing the ER 2 pack)
-Shockwave (Probably not, I have the Siege version)
-One Alpha Trion

Leader
-Soundwave (Probably not, I have the Netflix version)
-Astrotrain (Skipped the Siege version at the time)
-Snarl (Decided to start grabbing Dinobots when they pop up)

Capsule
-Voy Hot Rod (skipped him the first time, decided to start a film character collection)
-Voy Scourge (Hah, i just picked up a Sweep as his duplicate)

Combined with AotP Season 2 and this is gonna be expensive. I need more shelves!

 

[Exatron]

I'll definitely be getting Windcharger, Soundwave, Nemesis, and Barricade. Hot Rod, Shockwave, Airachnid, Alpha Trion, and One Thundercracker are likely, depending on specifics. Hound, Kranix, Optimus, and Orion are maybes, again depending on specifics. I'll probably be passing on the rest, unless there turns out to be something surprisingly appealing about them.

For Hot Rod, there are several ways they could get me to buy him. Well, basically anything other than a straight product refresh would do it. But I'd really love to see movie colors (like the Walmart G1 reissue), toy colors (cancelled Velocitron capsule release), or transparent plastic (to go with Crystal Rodimus and Sons of Cybertron). Or all three!

I really hope the new Scourge release prompts ToyHax to do a toy-based sticker set. I really want one to go with the similar toy-based Galvatron and Cyclonus releases!

 

[LordGigaIce]

Deluxe:

Tra Gen Studio Series A Level Dlx Dev Bumblebee - Pass. I'm happy with Netflix Bumblebee.

Tra Gen Studio Series A Level Dlx TFone Orion Pax - maybe, we'll see

Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx TF5 Barricade - pass, kinda checked out on Bayverse designs

Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx 86 Windcharger - we'll see... I'm very happy with my RtS version

Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx 86 Sunstreaker - pass, happy with ER

Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx 86 Kranix - sure why not? I'm in

Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx 86 Cliffjumper - pass, I have the ER and the BB versions and I'm happy with them

Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx TFone Thundercracker - maybe

Tra Gen Studio Series Dlx TFone Arachnid - Absolutely

Voyager:

Tra Gen Studio Series Voy 86 Skywarp - pass, happy with ER

Tra Gen Studio Series Voy 86 Thundercracker - See above

Tra Gen Studio Series Voy 86 Shockwave - pass, have the DC version

Tra Gen Studio Series Voy TFone Alpha Trion - maybe

Leader:

Tra Gen Studio Series LDR 86 Soundwave - pass, happy with the Legacy United version

Tra Gen Studio Series LDR 86 Astrotrain - maybe, need to wait and see on colours

Tra Gen Studio Series LDR 86 Snarl - already got it the first time

Tra Gen Studio Series LDR TF5 Nemesis Prime - ehhhh pass

Studio Series 86 30th anniversary Capsule:

Tra Gen SS 86 Anniversary Dlx Hound - yep, absolutely want him

Tra Gen SS 86 Anniversary Voy Scourge - I guess they saw all those shelf warming Sweeps and went "what's another shipment?"

Tra Gen SS 86 Anniversary Voy Hot Rod - pass, got the first version

Tra Gen SS 86 Anniversary LDR Optimus Prime - probably pass but I'm curious about what it actually ends up being.

 

[Steadfast]

Hooray, someone remembered Kranix had an altmode in his Universe profile!

It's kind of sad, but also hilarious.

Shockwave is kind of interesting-- I don't see them bothering with a new mold, and the last one got a comic-based redeco. I guess they've simply tweaked colors before, but it just seems weird considering how little he was in the movie.

 

[The Mighty Mollusk]

I mean, they made Snarl, and he had so little presence in the movie that he might as well have been an animation error.

 

[Steadfast]

I mean, they made Snarl, and he had so little presence in the movie that he might as well have been an animation error.

Snarl was in the show itself, though. He also didn't have any recent releases, and was part of a defined team.

 

[Donocropolis]

Kranix! Been wanting a good Kranix (and hopefully a remold as Arblus) forever, so super excited about that. Pretty much the rest of the '86 stuff is less interesting to me as I already have pretty good versions of all of those characters. If some of them are new molds that are pretty significant improvements, I may upgrade, but if they're just repaints, I can skip them.

I've more-or-less sworn off the Bayverse aesthetic unless it's something really great that can fit in with with the more traditional Generations styled stuff.

Glad to see TF: One getting some more love. I really do like those designs.

 

[Exatron]

Snarl was in the show itself, though. He also didn't have any recent releases, and was part of a defined team.

Shockwave was also in the show, right from day 1, albeit not as regularly as the main cast. His most recent domestic retail release was his Core class figure, a year before SS86 Snarl. He's not part of any team, but he is one of the most prominent Decepticons in the franchise, right below Megatron and Starscream. Given everyone else who's gotten SS86 figures despite minimal presence, not sure why Shockwave of all bots would be surprising.

I'm kinda curious whether Thundercracker and Skywarp will be straight Earthrise redecos or if they'll be based on the SS86 Starscream mold. I don't think I'm likely to get them either way, but I'm curious to see if the new tooling is implicitly tied to the Leader pricepoint, or if they'll still sell it as a Voyager without all the extra accessories.

Along those same lines, all variants of Siege Shockwave have been either Leader class or exclusives. I'm curious to see if he'll just be a stripped-down Siege mold or if he'll get some unique tooling to be tied to the Voyager pricepoint.

 

[Rhinox]

Chances are I'll try to get everything that isn't a Bayverse design. I'm pretty over his whole bag of knives aesthetic and the more I think about it, the less I enjoy his movies.

 

[Gizmoboy]

I still ended up picking up DotM Shockwave and Hatchet out of this last Studio Series releases. I have always love the DotM Shockwave as he is peak BayVerse Decepticon design. Hatchet I always thought was a fun design. I had the original DotM toy that turns into a jet, but this is more accurate.

That said, I think those might be the last of my BayVerse designs. I consider Bumblebee Movie designs to be a separate thing so I haven't sworn those off yet.

I am excited to see the upcoming Transformers One designs. Airachnid especially. I'll probably jump on those.

Soundwave I will consider if he is significantly different from the Netflix version. I still want a Buzzsaw, but I doubt Studio Series would have him since he wasn't in the movie. I'm sure I'd have to pick up that last box set to ever get a Buzzsaw.

 

[The Mighty Mollusk]

The only Bayverse design I'd consider is Steelbane, because dragon. Otherwise I'm not interested. Like others above, I'm just done with the aesthetic.

86 characters will depend if it's a significant enough improvement over versions I already have. If Shockwave is just the Siege figure without all his extras, well, I already have that one, so I don't need it. Curious what the new Leader Optimus will be. If it's the Commander without the trailer, I might be into it.

As for One, I'll decide when I see them, but I'm curious about Airachnid.

 

[Glitch]

I hope Astrotrain and Shockwave are smoothed.

So is Windcharger going to be all gray and broken?

Him and Wheeljack.