[GizmoTron]

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Originally Posted by goliathfasa

The issue is that the big 2 has a near monopoly on the large + current properties. Any hot movie, show, cartoon that comes out, they get it.

Technically yes, when all of the new hot movies are from properties where they've held the license for decades.

Putting aside things Hasbro owns completely like Transformers and My Little Pony, a large chunk of Hasbro's (and Mattel's) toys are licensed properties. But while they have the license to make toys for those properties, they do not own any of them out right, and licenses are available for multiple companies to share to make merchandise, and in many cases even make other action figure alternatives.

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So, collectors can complain all we want about how the 6" Spider-man or Batman figure is far inferior compared to the 7" Predator, but we'll still need to buy them since there are no alternatives.

Except arguably the best Batman and DC figures available to collectors are not actually made by Mattel, just the cheapest. But there are actually quite a few options if you're unhappy with Mattel's mass retail offerings (and no such thing as an action figure anyone needs to buy).

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Maybe it'll be a loss for the consumers if they merge afterall?

I'm not sure I believe much anything would change. The battle consumers face between figures losing quality versus the raising prices will continue as it has since forever.