SDCC 2025: Transformers Panel Recap by Hasbro Pulse Team

Posted to the Hasbro Pulse YouTube, the Hasbro Pulse and Transformers brand team provided an extensive and engaging brand recap for the beloved Transformers franchise, highlighting the exciting developments and upcoming releases that fans can look forward to.

First up on the agenda is the highly anticipated reveal of the return of the Fan Vote figure. This interactive initiative allows fans to actively participate in the decision-making process by voting on their favorite character. The voting will occur in three distinct rounds: Round 1, which takes place on August 12th, focuses on selecting the character itself; Round 2, scheduled for August 18th, will determine the Alt Mode Category; and Round 3, set for August 25th, will finalize the Alt Mode Type. This engaging process culminates in a concept reveal on September 21st, ensuring that fans are deeply involved in the creation of this exciting new figure.

Next on the list is the unveiling of the Void Rivals set, which draws inspiration from the Energon Universe comics published by Skybound. This intriguing set includes the iconic Transformer Jetfire, a character known for his aerial prowess, along with two additional 3 3/4 inch figures named Darak and Solila. The team also hinted at more Void Rivals and Energon Universe figure sets in the future.

Following this, the presentation showcased more images of the Hearts of Steel 2-Packs, featuring thrilling matchups such as Optimus Prime vs. Starscream and Bumblebee vs. Megatron. These sets are particularly exciting as they offer the first time that Hasbro has released figures based on these comics.

After that, the spotlight shifted to a Leader class reveal of Armada Nemesis Prime, which comes packaged with the Air Defense Mini-Con team. This Mini-Con team can be assembled into the formidable Star Saber, adding an extra layer of playability and excitement. The brand team also noted that the Nemesis Prime figure is currently just a prototype, with the promise that his colors will undergo changes before the final product is released, building anticipation among collectors.

Next in the lineup was the official product reveal of the Hot Wheels crossover figures, featuring the fan-favorite vehicles Twin Mill and Bone Shaker. This crossover is particularly noteworthy as it merges the worlds of Transformers and Hot Wheels. I hope we see more crossover figures in the future, and they are one of my favorite newer lines.

Moving on to the Age of the Primes for 2026, the presentation introduced a series of Deluxe Scale figures that will include Sureshot along with his Targetmaster partner, Blast Off, the Junkion Jalopy, Beast Wars Quickstrike, and Quintus Prime. The inclusion of an additional Junkion and Beast Wars Quickstrike is amazing, as well as more Targetmasters and an additional Combaticon which puts one much closer to a full Bruticus combiner..

Next, the Age of the Primes Voyager Scale figures for 2026 were revealed, featuring Brawl, Animated Wreck-Gar, and Amalgamous Prime. This line-up is a particularly interesting one and I'm curious how Brawl's size difference with the other Bruticus limbs will affect the combined form.

Continuing with the Age of the Primes for 2026, the Leader Scale figures were unveiled, which include Universe Razorclaw—a choice that certainly qualifies as a deep cut for dedicated fans—and Beast Wars Neo Big Convoy. It’s particularly noteworthy that the brand team has opted to retain the Japanese name for Big Convoy, which will surely delight fans of the original series.

Last but not least for the 2026 Age of the Prime line is the Commander Scale Onslaught, a figure that promises to be a standout addition to the collection with its impressive size and intricate design.

Shifting gears to the 2026 Studio Series Deluxe Scale figures, which include Transformers One Airachnid, Transformers: The Last Knight Barricade, and Studio Series 86 Windcharger. Each of these figures is designed to accurately represent the characters' looks from their specific media, ensuring both authenticity and appeal.

Next up is the 2026 Studio Series Voyager Scale, which features Transformers One Alpha Trion and Studio Series 86 Thundercracker. These figures are designed to capture the essence of the characters, providing fans with accurate representations that honor their legacy within the Transformers universe.

The brand team showcased the 2026 Studio Series Leader Scale Transformers: The Last Knight Nemesis Prime. They confirmed that this figure will include distinctive red paint on the face, a deliberate design choice aimed at differentiating him from the Age of Extinction Optimus Prime, thus adding a unique flair to the character.

The final reveal for the Studio Series line was an unexpected announcement—the first-ever Studio Series Titan Scale figure of Transformers: Age of Extinction Grimlock. This massive figure is set to be a highlight for collectors, and the brand team shared plans to release the rest of the Dinobots from the Age of Extinction movie as well. Additionally, they mentioned that Age of Extinction Optimus Prime would be able to ride Grimlock, mirroring the iconic scenes from the film, which is sure to excite fans and collectors eager to recreate their favorite moments.

Some of the reveals are homeruns for me; the Combaticons, Beast Wars Neo Big Convoy, Beast Wars Quickstrike, Universe Razorclaw, Studio Series 86 Windcharger and Thundercracker. But others are complete misses, like Titan Scale Age of Extinction Grimlock (why is he a Titan, he's not that big), The Last Knight Nemesis Prime (there isn't enough to make him stand out from Age of Extinction Optimus Prime), and The Last Knight Barricade (that figure looks an absolute mess, his ankles look very weak and he looks completely hollow in the legs).

What are your thoughts on these reveals? Sound off in the comments!