Why it makes total sense for Hasbro to stop making toys

[@astrayblue1]

Hasbro has cheapened the products to a point that what else is there to do but licenses out and stop.

[@hawktalon7890]

Yeah, a lot of their toys are honestly dollar store quality but for $20-30+.

[@michaelleary9233]

Yeah, rather pay $100 for something collector grade like Threezero or Mezco.

[@V1C10US]

Honestly kind of a relief. It would bring a sense of completion for a lot of crap I bought.

[@MTB214]

Hasbro wants to make money without any of the risks.

[@ThatGuy-zj8kg]

Or doing any of the work

[@kwamintaylor4247]

Hasbro haters always in the chats, while having tons of hasbro figures sitting in the shelf

[@MTB214]

@@kwamintaylor4247 I’m not a hater. Lol I don’t like some business practices of many companies but they have some positive aspects too… I afruslly just backed the ghost busters car and figures so I do like Hasbro. No company is perfect.

[@ccggenius]

They don't call him "Rich Uncle Pennybags" anymore, he's just "Mr. Monopoly", and the joy in the world shines a bit dimmer for it.

[@canitbechristine]

This explains so much. I toured Hasbro headquarters in January this year and it was so less busy than it used to be. I was with a former long time Hasbro employee from the 80s/90s and they had noted how it used to be such a hive of activity compared to now.

[@scottroxford5715]

I think the problem with them getting out of the toy business is that they haven't really been fostering their own ips too much with external media, what have they done with Monopoly outside of board games? Nothing. Is MLP still making shows? Who remembers MASK? G.I. Joe is a brand they're actively ashamed of when it's been proven to one of their best and Transformers is the only one to see any real success but even then it can't carry these other endeavors alone.

[@GartheKnightReturns]

I made the statement on another video recently discussing Hasbro and their future as a toy manufacturer: When we see them license out Transformers to a different company and they are transforming toys, or as they like to say “converting” so the term Transformer(s) doesn’t become generic and no longer trademarkable, then they’re ceasing to be a toy manufacturer. Because as of now the only non-transforming products are of action figures, model kits or high end collectible figures/items. The Robosen transforming robots are the only ones are converters. And third and fourth party Transformers don’t count because those are essentially IP infringers. It makes sense that they would want to get away from the Disney IP licenses because they haven’t been making money off them. If most of their inventory ends up at places like Ollie’s at heavily reduced prices. I just don’t see how well they’re going to pivot with their own IPs when most of the major ones are in decline.

[@AaronJediKnight]

I only hope that before Hasbro makes this transition they may launch a farwell wave of TVC to finish the 95

[@Collector_Phil]

That’s PRECISELY what’s on my mind recently from hearing about this Hasbro topic, previous to this great video as well.

[@JurassicRod]

Shame if they do. I know a lot of people seem to hate Hasbro toys now but I find them the best they've ever been over the last 5-10 years. Transformers and their 6 inch figures in particular.

[@mikebowler4499]

Lofl

[@daniel79tj]

gi joe classifieds are really good too and legends while they receive minor improvements are clearly miles ahead of a legends figure from 10 years ago , the problem with that last line is there are already too many characters and the MCU is pretty much dead in toys so there is to much apathy for it, some people are also deciding to buy one mafex of a cool character per month at $100 than 5 legends of characters they don't care.

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

This is going to be the entire entertainment industry soon; just trading IPs back and forth without ever creating anything new until we're absolutely sick of it. And AI is just going to make it worse. |=(

[@sci-fi.tsunami]

So if Hasbro licenses Transformers out to smaller companies, does that mean they will finally *STOP* ramming Bumblebee down our friggin throats? lol

[@seanmc7128]

Remember when hasbro wanted to become a company that makes movies? Now this. Hasbro is the new Kmart. Bad business decisions will make them nothing but a memory.

[@machineman6498]

Emotionally, that was tough to take but that’s why we’re here. Taxes in MA are pretty high. And “Boston” may not mean City Boston. There is a whole lot of empty tech buildings off Rt 128. Not great for a commuter though.

[@paulfrench7222]

Investors in public companies tend to care more about profit margin than gross profit. Licensing is almost 100% profit, while physical products are closer to 50% profit. It's the same reason Disney shut down LucasArts, Disney Interactive, and other video game studios to instead sell the licenses to outside video game companies.

[@manofaction1807]

Has-Been has been taken over by Microsoft, and is taking the same direction. They'll be Chapter 11 pretty soon.

[@RetroActionUK]

I can see why they want out on the Disney licenses though. Keep Transformers though (due to the agreement with TakaraTomy it looks like they can’t give it to someone else).

[@AutobotWonko]

You should be the new Hasbro CEO!

[@darthdelrio8308]

So has Hasbro said they are looking to get out of the Marvel and Star Wars licenses or is this still just an internet rumor? Steve Evan’s said they would be doing far less Star Wars pipeline reveals maybe the reason is because there won’t be future products.

[@spectorcreative1872]

They have not made an official statement, so yes, still a "rumor"

[@dextereason-rl3kj]

@@spectorcreative1872you’re the only 1 putting out this rumor. It’s like you have no idea what is going on in anything. Tell me again what role you have in any company

[@EdgedShadow]

Just a rumor. It all started with Overlord DVD's channel, which is notorious for making up bullshit. He's been saying DIsney is going to fire Kathleen Kennedy and retcon the sequel trilogy literally since The Last Jedi came out. People really need to stop spreading it.

[@Solfury]

The Transformers team have said there will be fewer waves of toys per year (dropping to three from the current four) so I wonder if that also applies to Star Wars?

[@FFFFPPPP]

Bobby Vala says Hasbro bid on DC. Theyre parting ways with Disney when their contract is up. The DC contract with Mcfarlane ends at the same time. This timing along with the fact that very little new product is being shown and no more Haslabs for either brand makes the properties ending all the more likely. Its all still speculation but Vala worked at Hasbro and has connections there. He also has hired ex-Hasbro executives including his old boss to work for him at Valaverse. He knows things and he’s hinted at this change-up for months. He warned of all the massive layoffs before they happened (and has said there’s more of that to come) so he gets fed inside info alot.

[@TM2DB]

Hasbro owns Tonka

[@chrisdmowski8494]

They need to ditch the Marvel and Star Wars crap. Those brands have gone downhill since Disney acquired them. Dump anything owned by Disney and they will recover.

[@Retrophoria]

I can only hope is hasbro ever does give up the marvel license it ends up with Jada toys. They have been killing it lately with their action figures.

[@nolanmerchan5095]

I hope not because my wallet, lol, jk.

[@scottroxford5715]

Absolutely not, while I would prefer Jada over say McFarlane, there's nothing Jada could do different that other companies aren't doing, plus they would take way longer to come out and tell me, do you REALLY want to wait 7 months for a Spider-Man figure? Something you no doubt already have. If Marvel Legends ends then so be it, there's enough good stuff that has been made to keep collecting and no other company really could top what Legends did other than very minor stuff.

[@Retrophoria]

@@scottroxford5715 I’m sorry and don’t take this the wrong way but you are completely delusional if you think Jadas figures aren’t 100 times better then hasbro in sculpt articulation and paint. I don’t even want to argue it because you are just so blind to the obvious. If you want to stop collecting after hasbro then so be it but don’t ruin it for everyone else.

[@Retrophoria]

@@scottroxford5715 Each jada figure is uniquely sculpted with better paint better anatomy and better articulation you are completely delusional if you think they cant offer something better then other companies and you clearly haven’t bought any Jada figures they have released. And yes I would rather wait for a figure that’s a 10/10 then get served Hasbro’s trash reused figures every month.

[@scottroxford5715]

@Retrophoria I have two Jada figures and they're just okay, really they're nothing that crazy. And unique sculpts?? My guy they have six figures that use Ryu's body, plus they're popping out repaints before getting the rest of the Street Fighter 2 line done, stop glazing them, they're guilty of the same shit you might gripe about other companies doing, also it took them 2 years to get those Mega Man figures out, I can't be excited for 20 dollar, mid af figures. Sure it's standard practice to reuse body sculpts but you're actively lying about "unique sculpts". And in terms of paint?? Average at best. Again they are just OKAY.

[@gojira387]

It may make sense from a profitability standpoint... but I cannot help but remember that old quote from a guy named Walt: "We do not make movies to make more money. We make money to make more movies." When a company forgets it's PURPOSE, it is doomed. What would happen if Nabisco decided to make medical equipment instead of cookies or Peterbilt decided to make furniture? A toy company that no longer makes toys is no longer a toy company and perhaps very soon no longer a company at all. If there is any counter evidence, I'd love to know about it, but that's my current take on it.

[@michaelleary9233]

Glad Power Rangers is going to smaller companies, like Super7, that care about it more.

[@christopherbaker9676]

I would rather have the show back

[@goosetheloose8332]

“The Tony Stark Business Plan”.

[@KyleEckers]

"Hasbro was able to make the lightning collection in a cave, w a box of scraps!" And boy it felt like it was made w scraps.

[@spectorcreative1872]

I was going to use a flip of Mad Money from the film but it wasn't working

[@goosetheloose8332]

@@spectorcreative1872Probably for the best given YT’s scattershot copyright antics.

[@RetroActionUK]

Crazy changes at Hasbro right now. Former Kenner employee John Warden was one of 100 employees laid off after just rejoining the Transformers team, Hasbro is looking to move their headquarters and shut down their toy department and become a licensing company. Aaron Archer said that no other company can make Transformers with TakaraTomy according to the contract, all of the licensed figures don’t transform. Also the Transformers team have been knocking it out of the park with the current Transformers lines so hopefully that doesn’t end. Hasbro does have a lot of Kenner properties they could now tap into , them licensing MASK to The Loyal Subjects surprised most and seems to be directly linked to this.

[@ccggenius]

You mean they don't convert. If the toys transformed, the trademark would become worthless.

[@RetroActionUK]

@ that’s right convert. Hasbro can’t use transform too often.

[@fozziw7490]

I agree with his assessment but it is not new news. And I am not sure when it will fully happen it might take a few years.

[@Technosphile]

I don’t blame them one bit for wanting off of the sinking ship that is Star Wars. That brand has committed suicide and Hasbro’s efforts with it just sit on the pegs.

[@zeta_noir]

Maybe they shouldn't have made every fig almost 30 bucks after tax? Make them 19.99 again and I'm sure they'd sell. There's literally no reason for a stupid markup.

[@haydentcem]

The brand has not committed suicide

[@zeta_noir]

@@haydentcem The acolyte has entered the chat

[@haydentcem]

@ Grow a pair

[@JurassicRod]

@@haydentcem Kinda has. It was way more successful in selling toys and merchandise in the ten years there was no content between 2005-15. Since Disney started pumping out content, sales have gone down. Disney haven't even made a profit on the franchise yet.

[@nakobass28]

Always enjoy you analysis. Who do you think would make Transformers toys for Hasbro? What's the benefit for licensees like Playmates with Power Rangers?

[@paltrax]

Taking off the fan hat for a second too though its not like a company changing their business is a new thing. Nintendo was a toy company now they make electronics nokia made what rubber tires then phones now IT stuff.

[@Toygains]

Why is Barbie Pictured?

[@cqmi8712]

Hasbro owns Tonka and the brand is currently licensed out to Basic Fun

[@rodrickadamginsburg8960]

Great points!

[@vincentcastle2157]

This mostly sucks for Gi Joe collectors due to quality and availability. Classified figures are decent quality and very accessible. The other companies that currently produce Gi Joe figures are awful in quality and price. Unless they have someone else produce the line as it is, it will die. Super 7's stuff is expensive hot garbage, and One:12 stuff is nice, but quadruple the price, as well as delicate. I would mo longer be a collector at all. I guess money saved.

[@MikeLitoris-z1p]

I think at least with Star Wars 3.75 inch. They have been underperforming, but by simply making toys , i.e., the mandalorian toys that got announced a couple of month's ago but when rhey make stuff people want like the haslab ghost or the new expanded universe 3 pack then people will buy that.

[@subraxas]

Mattel has Fisher-Price and Hasbro's counterpart is Playskool. Fisher-Price is definitely better than Playskool. Apart from the Hotwheels, Mattel has also owned Matchbox for decades now. Among others, Matchbox produces fantastic modular interchangeable playsets for their little cars; one can build an entire city diorama out of these. Mattel has Mega Brands and Hasbro's counterpart is...... nothing! They used to have Kre-O, but they shut it down some seven years ago.

[@benconforzi5696]

Just as well, there latest line of transformer toys shows just how creatively bankrupted they are. Compared to the Takara Tomy transformer toy line.

[@ADAM_COLLECTS]

It’s logical From a business perspective. they have grown as big as they can and if they do this they’ll have money come in at no risk to themselves. Look at all the landfill bound product they have made in the last few years? Wakanda forever? Try Wakanada for nobody. Immortals? Dead before it started. Star Wars black series has had more trash made than a McDonald’s parking lot in the last 18 months and that’s not fun for anyone. Too many fails at their own cost. The mouse wants his cheese first! It will cost jobs at Hasbro but that has been their Christmas gift to a lot of people in recent years. Now, I know Michael from retro blasting wanted to comment but he’s busy with the ol Grecian formula and doesn’t want to replace another keyboard to go to war with. 😂😅😂😅

[@machineman6498]

Retro….

[@robertwong2412]

You can't license out if you don't keep creating. Hasbro hasn't been creating anything original for a long time. And Mattel also has Masters of the Universe, a pretty big IP.

[@richardvasquez1666]

The problem is that Hasbro is licensing their IPs to small toy companies, which means they're going to be expensive. Hasbro should have partnered with Spin Master because they make affordable toys for kids. Hasbro is going to be in the same position as Disney/Lucasfilm- the liscense fees are going to be ridiculous, and these small toy companies won't make a profit because of it. They will have to price gouge just to break even if at all possible. Then they'll be looking to sell off the license.

[@knuthamsun6106]

but i need more Reva Sevander figures 😆

[@STEVSGONE]

Look what they've come along and done to simon!

[@GenesGems]

It makes sense. But totally sucks for collectors who don’t have a lot of disposable income as the figures that are out will be triple the price on the secondary market and therefore just will stop buying. Hasnro has every right to want to own their properties. Mattel owns Heman. Mattel created Heman. So I get it. Humans figures are the best price too. So maybe it’s good for toys after all. But it’s hard to compete with the brands that have a 50+ year history-Rey, like Marvel, Starwars, G.I.Joe etc.

[@robbyrhodes4572]

I have faith Hasbro won’t do that. They would be betraying their heritage

[@Hurricanelive]

I'd love it if Takara got TF back completely, I'd love if Jada got Mortal Kombat, even just MK 1 and/or 2. I'd love if McFarlane got Marvel, I'd love it if Bobby got Joe. I'd love it if DND died. But above all, I would love if Hasbro hits a crunch and goes under.

[@mikewilson858]

So Hasbro could license Transformers and Gi Joe to Mattel?

[@Solfury]

Hasbro cannot sublicense Transformers. Former Transformers brand lead Aaron Archer confirmed that Hasbro's own licensing deal with Takara-Tomy means that only Hasbro can make transforming Transformers. However, it's free reign on anything non transforming like Hot Wheels and Super 7's figures. High end collectables like that Hot Wheels Optimus Prime and Robosen seem to be exceptions too.

[@knuthamsun6106]

lame

[@hellequinnz]

Mattel is actually trying to sell to hasbro

[@CardboardBots]

Is Hasbro the biggest toy company in the world?

[@spectorcreative1872]

No, LEGO is.

[@CardboardBots]

@spectorcreative1872 oh, okay I wasn't sure. It still pretty amazing that one of the largest toy companies is considering exiting the manufacturing business to make more money.

[@liljenborg2517]

In the early 1900s the Studebaker Brothers had a hundred year history of building wagons. But a new pair of products had completely transformed the market: Ford's Model T car and Model TT Pickup. Studebaker had a choice: become a much smaller company producing a few wagons a year for the few people who still wanted them (Hollywood movie studios making westerns and Central Park carriage rides) or shift to making cars and trucks, too. They made the shift and it gave the company another generation of life. Hasbro is looking at the toy market and sees that it's significantly shrunk because kids hit age 6 or 7 and the don't want toys anymore. They want VIDEO GAMES, especially the boys. The only people who want transformers toys are MY age. This is one of the reasons the Transformers One movie was marketed to the audience that went to see Sonic and Mario. This is why the transformers shows (like Rescue Bots) and toys have become simpler and targeted at kids UNDER 6. Now, why Hasbro hasn't been trying to get more Transformers based games made is the mystery - I guess they've been waiting for a movie to catch on enough to make a game based off it, but, since the people making the movies don't seem to have much a clue about how to make Transformers movies . . . So, Hasbro has a choice: become a much smaller company that produces Monopoly games and Nerf guns and toys that _used to be_ bestsellers for the toy collector market, or shift to make the video games their target market actually wants to play with and license out making plastic to the companies that still want to do that.

[@TrypticOwen]

The only brand that Hasbro owns that has any amount of content success that I can think of is Transformers and that content is performing less and less well and is less and less the main driving force behind toy sales as far as I can tell from what is on shelves. GI Joe is a very distant second and a repeated failure (we just don't seem to have the taste for our kids to play with soldiers, anymore). Hasbro have tried a shared universe, before, and it failed super-hard because the next brands out of the door were MASK, Visionaries, Rom and Micronauts (almost failed, failed, no-one cares and really no-one cares). As much as Marvel and Star Wars are in a bit of a funk at the moment, these are still strong brands with a reputation earned from the content itself rather than the toy product. I really don't think Hasbro's IP can match these sorts of brands. Moreover, any toys made as licensed products would be less efficiently produced by a licensor as that company has to do all the same work and make all the same money Hasbro currently needs to make as well as paying the license fee. Hasrbo owning IP is good because it saves them a proportion of their margin that would otherwise go to Disney/etc... but their IP ownership doesn't, in my estimation, have potential to do more than that.

[@polarboy5862]

lol "My own creation myth wars" I don't think if you stick ancient mythology in AI it counts as creating an IP.

[@jeremygregorio7472]

With all the talk about new tariffs I can see them being nervous about profit margins. From what I understand the proposed tariffs out there by some of the candidates would basically double the price of anything shipped from China which is basically all toys

[@dextereason-rl3kj]

There’s only 1 candidate that keeps talking about tariffs. It’s his newly learned word. 😂😂😂😂.

[@sci-fi.tsunami]

I think Transformers are made in Vietnam now.

[@christopherbaker9676]

Hasbro should give up power rangers. I wish I had enough money to buy it.

[@ciscodeer9094]

Well they could sell it off to 20th Fox but....

[@mikeyjhilli]

Despite your explanation it still seems odd. It still seems like it DOESN'T make sense. Maybe I get it. Maybe I don't. Maybe this is the new way. Maybe it's not.

[@nolanmerchan5095]

"Plastic dolls and little men", haha, I love it, both apply. What about little plastic doll-like men? lol, next time I tell my wife I bought one Imma call it that, haha.

[@flashgordo9485]

Hasblo keeps screwing up. They might as well stop making toys- whoever is in charge has no imagination or a clue.

[@oansun]

Oh wow, clownfish TV "news." And from toy guru who has certainly never just made up a news story in a messageboard to one up Emiliano

[@BuckarooBanzai84]

So... you're saying the toy-industry is going to be just like the movie industry; a bunch of lazy executives doing nothing but sitting on their fat asses collecting royalties? Pardon me if I'm not enthused. >=(

[@williamsimkulet7832]

The problem is that Hasbro is a better toymaker than it's an IP maker, and Hasbro toys are better toys than other companies. No offense to Jada, but an out-of-scale 3 pack of die cast vehicles just isn't as good as any given Hasbro equivalent. MAYBE Transformers will be immune to this stupidity, given Takara/Tomy makes most of the transformers figures as-is. Remember it wasn't too long ago that Hasbro's stock was downgraded because they risked destroying their cash cow MTG (and given upcoming news... maybe they have?); if you outsource Transformers or MLP to too many 3rd party companies that make too many inferior products... oopsie; you don't have any worthwhile IP left.

[@polarboy5862]

Jada's street fighter figures are better or as good as any recent marvel legends. I don't think Jada could do as big a line as legends at the moment but they are killing it on a small scale.

[@thatmanoverthere608]

Hasbro's quality sucks. Sculpts are nice but quality sucks. They are better off dropping out of the game.

[@davidcordi8002]

The guru night lick is just a guy who stirs the pot.

[@blissfairchild7194]

I think it was a wrong move for them to try to get out of the toy industry, but with their greedy/woke management, it makes sense that they would do something stupid like that. Once they learned that collectors would pay way more money for toys than parents of a child that wanted toys, they had dollar signs in their eyes. They abused their loyal fan bases, by focusing making overpriced toys to take as much money for as little work as possible (i know this is every company's dream), and sadly we all bought into it, at least at first, I saw what was happening.. but I still wanted what I wanted.. I was mad about the prices.. but still wanted the item.. it was a terrible situation to be placed in. Gone are the days when toy line can be fun and cheap, made for kids to enjoy, but where former kids that loved that IP could still pick up what they wanted at a fair/cheap price. You know what made collecting GI Joe fun when I was a child? They were relatively cheap (except the BIG ones like the FLAGG and the Defiant)... but even if the vehicles were expensive, the figures were under $10.. under $5.00 most times! Now they want $20.00 for a slightly newer version of the O-ring figures they made decades ago? When you buy furniture... do you think the new stuff, even if they make it to look like the antique stuff, is going to be worth the same as the antique furniture? or do you think it would be way less money? Hasbro saw their old o-rings going for $20 on eBay, and thought they could sell NEW o-rings for that same price! That's ridiculous to me! Part of what made them worth that much is that they were OLD (like Antiques), and they weren't produced anymore... why would i pay those prices for brandnew items that they are STILL making RIGHT NOW!? They don't get it.

[@polarboy5862]

I suppose you have to remember the toy market has been shrinking for a long time. There are really only two markets that buy toys now, pre schoolers and men aged 45 to 60. So in someways I guess they think make hay while the sun shines because in 10 to 15 years one of those markets is going to be gone.

[@thecartoonsthatmadeus4]

Transformers’ last project was crap

[@spencerbrus6343]

The collector lines are producing right now is some of the best stuff they have ever made.

[@brettwood1351]

@@spencerbrus6343 Yeah, we've had a lot of great stuff in Studio Series and Legacy.

[@jalengatton]

Legacy and SS are the best figures since ROTF era. Not for me though, I'm sick of endless incremental upgrades.

[@Rob-z7k]

The Studio Series 86 is a great line

[@ciscodeer9094]

God I miss the Alternator series back in 2007, best toyline of the TF series that I've never bought, and that hurts.

[@mikebowler4499]

Hasbro has been garbage since the 90s