Why doesn't Hasbro release the new TFA figs?
 

Hello again fellow Arkers!I was just wondering,why doesn't Hasbro release the new TFA figs?I read somewhere that the new Deluxes and Voyagers were to be released on May 30,2009.I was waiting but nothing showed up.Hasbro already released Ironhide,Rodimus Minor,Arcee and Cybertronian Ratchet.Why won't they just release the new Deluxes and Voyagers as TRU exclusives?

It's not up to Hasbro to say where items are exclusive to. The retailers themselves are the ones who request exclusives, and they have direct say in what will be exclusive. You can't just dump something on a store and tell them it's an exclusive.

And the reason no more Animated is being released is that there is simply no market at all for Animated in North America. Animated is still clogging toy shelves in nearly every market. No retailer woudl possible take on even more of a dead line. At best, they could do is a Hasbro Toy Shop exclusive, but even then, the demand is rather low.

I think it has to do more with the fact that Hasbro is coming out with their new television programming channel and the new Transformers TV series rather than low demand. Hasbro wants to cut its ties with the Cartoon Network produced Transformers Animated and draw attention away from the line.

It's unfortunate because it was a good series and the toys were pretty good quality. I think Hasbro and Cartoon Network mishandled the series with poor promotion and poor time slots. Right now, the Animated series is gaining steam in Japan, getting new figures, and I think there are rumors that Takara may produce a fourth season for the series.

Well, the line was a lost cause well before the announcement of the Hub. The toys just were not big sellers...At all. Sure one or two toys continually sold out, but to this day, there are still a fair bit of Animated figures clogging toy shelves. Collectors and kids alike just didn't buy into the series. Right now there is a vocal minority complaining the loss of Animated.

There is no chance at all of Takara continuing with Animated beyond the already produced episodes. That's simply an unrealistic fantasy.

There have been a lot of Animated Arcees and Ironhides at my local ToysRus stores in New York City and Long Island. T.J. Maxx has a bunch of Wreck-Gars and Starscream clones. I haven't seen the Animated stuff move anywhere, really.

I check once a week for the new Iron Man waves and Power Rangers, and the only retail action figures that I see sell very consistently are Marvel Universe.

With molds already tooled up for Hydrodrive Bumblebee, Wingblade Prime, and Blackout, there is a chance we could still get TF Animated figures but as Joe mentioned, that is up to the retailers. TRU seems to be receptive to the line, already ordering 4 exclusives. Hopefully we can see the aforementioned figures. Right now though, I am getting impatient, so I will most likely opt for the Japanese Wingblade Prime. I have a thing for clear plastic anyways.

Also, I did read in a review that the Wingblade armor does not fit deluxe Optimus well, that unless it was retooled, there is no real secure way of putting the armor on. The US version of Wingblade was to come with the deluxe Prime.