TFW2005HisstankTokuNationToyark
HissTank › Archives for Silver Optimus

under Press Release

During their 4th Quarter and 2024 Full Year Financial Call, Hasbro issued a Press Release outlining their future strategy.

Our summary:

Hasbro has unveiled its new strategic plan, “Playing to Win,” which will guide the company through 2027. The plan focuses on expanding its audience from 500 million to 750 million through play-fueled engagement and partnerships. Hasbro expects mid-single-digit revenue growth, operating profit margin improvements, and $1 billion in cost savings by 2027.

CEO Chris Cocks emphasized Hasbro’s strength in games and licensing, highlighting franchises like Magic: The Gathering, Monopoly, and Dungeons & Dragons. CFO Gina Goetter reinforced the company’s goal of becoming one of the most profitable toy and game companies globally.

Playing To Win’s key strategic pillars include:

1. Profitable Franchises: Asserting the fundamentals of profitable, play-focused brands.
2. Aging Up: Increasing the play and collectible appeal for fans aged 13 and above across Hasbro’s brands.
3. Everyone Plays: Expanding reach in opportunity areas including girls and emerging markets.
4. Digital & Direct: Building video games, services, and e-commerce capabilities.
5. Partner Scaled: Driving profitable reach through outstanding retail and licensing partnerships.

Hasbro is exiting non-core businesses like eOne film and TV while investing in digital gaming, collaborations, and brand expansion into areas like themed hotels, cruise ships, and quick-service restaurants.

Additionally, Hasbro is modernizing its operations, supply chain, and AI-driven advancements to fuel innovation while maintaining its commitment to community and environmental impact.

You can read the full press release, after the jump.

[Read more…]

under Mattel

Two years ago, Mattel entered an agreement with Hasbro to manufacture licensed toys based on franchises such as Transformers and Monopoly. The toys would include collaborations with Mattel’s own franchises such as Hotwheels, Uno, Barbie, and many more. We speculated back then that it is likely that a Hotwheels X G.I. Joe collab could be in the cards.

Thanks to retailer 1StopDieCast, we now know that our guess is on point.

A case of Hotwheels has been discovered with a licensed diecast G.I. Joe Skystriker.

It is unclear whether there will be more undiscovered G.I. Joe x Hotwheels merchandise, but if Transformers is any indication then we’ll likely see other vehicles such as H.I.S.S. tanks, V.A.M.Ps, and more.

You can check out the Hotwheels Skystriker mirrored with this news post.

under G.I. Joe Movie, G.I. Joe Video Games

Speaking to Bloomberg, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks states that the toy giant will stop co-financing movie projects.

Mr. Cocks is leading the company through a challenging transition, focusing on video games and digital entertainment to offset declining toy sales and underperforming movie ventures. A gamer at heart, Chris Cocks joined Hasbro in 2016, overseeing the rapid growth of the Wizards of the Coast division, which produces Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons.

Under his leadership, Hasbro is investing heavily in gaming, including licensing hits like Monopoly Go and Baldur’s Gate 3, as well as developing new projects like a GI Joe action-adventure game (tentatively titled G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes) and a digital Magic: The Gathering Commander format. Despite the competitive video game market and recent project cancellations, Hasbro aims to release one to two new video games annually by 2026.

Mr. Cocks is also expanding Magic: The Gathering with crossover sets featuring Lord of the Rings and Marvel characters, drawing new players while sparking fan debate. Hasbro’s focus on digital collectability and broader gameplay reflects its effort to adapt to shifting consumer preferences. As the new CEO puts it, Hasbro’s future lies in leveraging its iconic brands through innovative play.

You can read the full article at Bloomberg (paywall).

under G.I. Joe Video Games

The publisher behind G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout video game has announced that they are pulling the Steam (PC) version of the game from the stores on December 31st, 2024.

Game Mill Entertainment has issued an unusually small announcement with regards to the situation.

“Product Removal Announcement (Posted Mon, November 11):

This game and any related DLCs and bundles will be removed from sale on December 31, 2024.”

It is worth pointing out that there is no explanation for this shutdown nor a thank you note for the players who purchased the game. A far cry from such announcements from other publishers. The company has also not clarified whether the online multiplayer aspects will continue despite the closure of sales.

G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout video game is a third-person shooter based on G.I. Joe: Classified Series designs. The game features fan favorites such as Duke, Snake Eyes, Cobra Commander, Baroness, and more as playable characters.

This discontinuation comes 3 years after the official release of the game.

There are no such announcements for the console versions of the game, and the aforementioned Steam and PS4 versions are now 75% off the original price.

under G.I. Joe Video Games

G.I. Joe: Wrath Of Cobra video game has been given a release date. Well, at least on Steam (PC version).

Mark your calendars since the game will hit the aforementioned storefront on September 26th, 2024.

Though Steam is primarily for PCs, Steamdeck and other Windows handheld users, such as ROG ALLY X, can also enjoy the game on-the-go. Additionally, Steamlink is a great option if you have a Bluetooth controller for your Android or iOS device, allowing you to enjoy portability on your bed or the couch.

G.I. Joe: Wrath Of Cobra is an arcade beat ’em up similar to TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.

Link: Steam.

Steam release announcement trailer:

[Read more…]

under G.I. Joe Video Games

Hasbro has applied for a new trademark along with a new logo for Hasbro Games at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

This is likely a rebrand of Hasbro’s existing Hasbro Gaming division; for modern audiences. This new initiative will cover video games, online live-service games, and board games.

With Chris Cocks heading the toy giant, it was only a matter of time before we heard such news. Mr. Cocks previously led the Wizards of the Coast division of Hasbro; where it is famously known for publishing board games and video games.

It is also likely that the upcoming G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes video game will be published under the new banner. Hopefully, the same will happen for the [currently] ill-fated Transformers: Reactivate live service game, which was originally planned for Beta back in October.

You can learn more about the trademark, after the jump.

[Read more…]

under G.I. Joe Movie

The creative team from Transformers: One animated movie visited SDCC 2024 over the weekend to promote the upcoming film. While there, many journalists also asked about the Transformers X G.I. Joe Live Action Movie.

Speaking to Collider, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura stated that they are still trying to figure out how to present the movie without an overwhelming number of characters.

“We are definitely in the process of figuring out how to integrate G.I. Joe and Transformers. We’re in the creative process. We really have not discovered the key to that yet because one of the difficulties with it is there are so many characters that you feel you have to service, and when you do that, you never really deliver any good characters. So the trick here is to figure out how do you combine these two worlds with the least number of people or robots? That’s where it’s a big trick that we’re trying to figure out. So, we’re working with that.”

Speaking to both Collider and Entertainment Weekly, Chris Hemsworth talked about his inclusion in the planned Live Action Movie.

“I don’t know yet,” Hemsworth admitted. “I keep getting asked about that. [Producer] Lorenzo [di Bonaventura] had brought it up when I was recording this film … and we started talking about where the universe could expand and how fun it could be. And look, I’m just down for great filmmakers, great scripts, great stories. There’s a lot of potential in this universe, in both the G.I. Joe world and the Transformers world, to recreate, try something different.”

***

“We’ve had an early conversations about it, and about what the world has to offer, and I think there’s some really fun opportunities to expand the universe. Nothing official yet, it’s been in early creative discussions. But who knows? We’ll see. I love this experience. I loved working with Lorenzo Bonaventura and Paramount, I worked with Paramount years ago. But Lorenzo I’ve known for a lot of years and he’s just such a great creative partner.

[It would be] really fun to give something to audiences that’s a new take and something fresh. I’m not even sure [who I would play]. I was like, “Am I going to be, like, talking to myself? Am I still going to play Optimus Prime and then switch over to G.I. Joe? Do I get paid twice? What’s happening here?” That’s the important question.”

Additionally, Mr. di Bonaventura pondered the thought of moving back to standalone G.I. Joe movies:

“We do intend to bring back G.I. Joe, a standalone. We’ve created a complication for ourselves because we just did the [Transformers: One] animated movie, and to our wonder and to our real happiness, because there are no human characters in the animated movie, the characters of the robots are so much more sophisticated around it. They cost too much in live-action, so we’re always trying to figure out how few words we can get from that, whereas, the animation is all the same. So, we’ve set a third problem for ourselves here, which is now the audience would be disappointed if we return to the same level of characterization we’ve had up to now.”

under G.I. Joe Movie

Rumors from The Hollywood Reporter suggest that Chris Hemsworth is in talks to star in the upcoming Transformers X G.I. Joe live-action movie.

Mr. Hemsworth is no stranger to Hasbro franchises as he is the main voice lead in the Transformers: One animated movie.

“Chris Hemsworth is doubling down on Transformers. The actor is in talks to lead an untitled crossover film for Paramount and Hasbro Entertainment that unites the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The proposed film follows the events of last year’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which ended with Anthony Ramos’ Noah Diaz getting a job offer from the Joes. Director Steven Caple Jr. put the ending the script at the encouragement of producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, with the filmmakers knowing it could take some maneuvering to make it happen.”

It is unclear if he will reprise his role as Optimus Prime or play a G.I. Joe character.

under Compatible Military Toys

Hasbro just applied for a brand new M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand animated series trademark at the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

  • USPTO Number: 98381363
  • Trademark: M.A.S.K. MOBILE ARMORED STRIKE KOMMAND
  • Trademark Description: Entertainment services, namely, an on-going animated series for children featuring children’s entertainment provided through television, satellites, radio, audio, video, electronic media and computer networks
  • Owner: Hasbro, Inc.
  • Trademark Date: Jan. 30, 2024

Interestingly, Hasbro has allowed the 2015 animated series trademark to expire (in 2020) without opting to renew it.

It should be noted that such trademark applications might not directly result in the creation of an animated series.

Back in 2021, multiple G.I. Joe projects were in active development including a live-action series based on Lady Jaye’s character and another shot at a G.I. Joe animated series. These announcements came after an activation of several G.I. Joe trademarks but ultimately resulted in nothing. The same can be said for the trademark and the development of a brand new Micronauts animated series for Hasbro’s Hub TV.

under G.I. Joe Video Games

A week ago, we announced an invitation by the developers of G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra regarding a Community Playtest. However, the devs did not disclose a date for the event.

Today, we have learned through IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) that the game has been submitted for a formal rating. This would indicate that the game is ready for public testing.

Specs:

  • Classified Date: September 1st, 2023
  • Classification: PG
  • Classification Details: Mild Violence
  • Production Company: Freedom Games

Judging by IARC’s PG rating, we expect the ESRB rating to be ‘T for Teen’, and the PEGI rating to be PEGI-12.

The game is expected to be released worldwide in 2024.