Unreleased toy

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Despite her prominence in the cartoon, Arcee's The Transformers toy never got past the prototype stage.... at least, not until nostalgia got really mainstream.

For every Transformer that makes it to store shelves, there are always some that fall by the wayside. Lines get canceled, retailers pass on the final wave(s) of an assortment in favor of the upcoming next line or back off on exclusives, designs go over budget, focus groups pass on a concept, or maybe they just weren't cool enough. Regardless of the whys and wherefores, this article aims to document the unreleased toys that never quite saw retail.

Note that this list will likely never be "complete", as for every concept design that makes it into collectors' hands, a countless number wind up in the garbage can.

(Quick! Get to the landfill outside Pawtucket and START DIGGING.)

Regular releases

The Transformers

Concepts

• Rock Bots
• Remote control jeep (Potentially a Hasbro release of Jipe)

Concept art

Yup, they wanted to make me, but oh well.

• A Headmaster version of Arcee, based on a redecoed Chromedome.

• New Rodimus

• Skywarp/Megatron Triple Changer.

• Megatron/Galvatron Triple Changer.

• Big Bang

• A Rodimus figure with a strange design and transformation. It is believed that the Target exclusive transforming Optimus Prime gift card is based on this figure, as it is similar in design and transformation.

• A "Decepticon Stingray" revealed in Transformers Vault. Though the image caption identifies it as "an unreleased and nameless Decepticon Headmaster", the artwork shown does not appear to agree with the "Headmaster" description.

• The Vintage Horror Movie Series

Packaged samples (test packaging)

• VS-A Superion vs Menasor giftset

Prototypes

• Arcee in her original design

Unicron wanted a toy, but his bargaining posture was highly dubious.

• Two Unicron prototypes were created during G1, neither saw full release.

• Diaclone Triple Changer - His design was later used for Dropshot.

• Double Pretenders

• A Micromaster carrier-base, which has some similarities to the released Rocket Base.

• An Action Master battery-operated "half-track"

Toys

• The tank Deluxe Vehicle.

Generation "1.5"

"Hi, I'm the Bonecrusher-Bonecrusher fuzor!"

(This section is about the line available in parts of the world (most prominently Europe) between the US G1 and G2 lines.)

Concept art

• Buffalo Dump
• Hyperdrive

Generation 2

Prototypes

• Auto Rollers:
  • General Optimus Prime
  • Sgt. Hound
  • A jet Auto Roller that eventually wound up as Beast Wars II Autojetter
  • An APC Auto Roller that eventually wound up as Beast Wars II Autolauncher

• Greasepit, part of a Go-Bots Racing Rig

• Cyberjets retooled with armored limbs and larger weapons.

• Block Town series in Japan
  • TFBT-1 Radar Set (with "Snipe")
  • TFBT-2 Control Set/Control Tower Set (with "Terradive")
  • TFBT-3 Airport Building Set (with "Sky Tornado")
  • TFBT-4 Gasoline Station Set (with "Rapid Engine")
  • TFBT-5 Garage Set (with "Carzap")
  • TFBT-6 Signal/Traffic Lights Set (with "Hotrider")

• Two new-sculpt Go-Bots:
  • A military SUV that would have been named "Hound"
  • A Purple Mercedes-Benz SL500 sport coupé, name unknown

• G.I. Joe Transformer, name unknown

• Diaclone Autobot Car molds:
  • Mirage in green and pink
  • A possible Jazz in orange, would've been released in wave 2 with Mirage and Sideswipe.
  • A possible Sideswipe in yellow and blue.

• Diaclone Decepticon Seeker mold:
  • Blackout, who would probably have been paired with Sandstorm
  • Sandstorm, who would probably have been paired with Blackout
  • A version of Starscream in jungle colors. Whether this figure would have actually been Starscream or otherwise is unknown.
  • A version of Ramjet in sky blue colors. Whether this figure would have actually been Ramjet or otherwise is unknown, though much later the deco reached fruition as the Legacy: Evolution character Cloudcover

• The four "flipchanger" sculpts which were later released in Machine Wars as:
  • Skystriker (Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor) - Megatron/Megaplex
  • Thundercracker (Dassault Rafale) - Skywarp/Thundercracker
  • Greasepit (tow truck) - Hoist/Hubcap
  • Lightspeed (race car) - Mirage/Prowl.

Packaged samples (test packaging)

• Four new-sculpt Go-Bots, test-packaged on High Beam cards.
  • Rumble
  • "GTP Racer", name unknown
  • "911 Police Car", name unknown (possibly Prowl?)
  • "Black Viper", name unknown

Packaged samples (final packaging)

• Redecoes (or color variants) of the two G2 Hero sculpts:
  • Optimus Prime in a dark-blue and red color scheme
  • Megatron in a gray and black camouflage

• Laser Cycles
  • Jazz
  • Laser Cycle Soundwave

Honorable mention goes to "ATB" Megatron (with Starscream), which was released to test markets in Ohio in very limited quantities, but was never available as a wide release. They later received minor modifications for release in Japan as BB and Starscream

• All of the Stunticon limbs except for Breakdown, who was released as a BotCon 1994 exclusive.

• All of the Protectobot limbs.

Beast Wars

One of the most well-known unreleased toys.

Concept art

• Transmetals Dinobot

Prototypes

• Beast Wars Neo Unicron

Packaged samples

• Optimus Minor (blue version)
• Ramulus (green version)

Beast Machines

• Screechwing
• Spiketail
• Obsidian (Deluxe Class)
• Megatron (Ultra Class)

These figures were initially listed on the Big Bad Toy Store website, but they were taken down later, along with listings of Transtech figures.

Transtech

It was not to be.

Concept art

• Megatron; unsure whether this would have been the G1 or beast era character.
• Depth Charge
• Shockwave
• Silverbolt
• Soundwave
• Blackarachnia
• Nightscream
• Immorticon

Prototypes

• Optimus Prime
• Cheetor
• Starscream

Armada

Prototypes

• Built to Rule! Ramjet
• Built to Rule! Rollout

Packaged samples

• The Unicron Battles redeco of the Adventure Mini-Con Team (Dune Runner, Iceberg, & Ransack)
• The Unicron Battles redeco of the Space Mini-Con Team (Astroscope, Payload, & Sky Blast)
• The Unicron Battles redeco of the Street Speed Mini-Con Team redecos (Backtrack, Oval, & Spiral)

Playskool Gobots

Hasbro wanted this pack to Go-Go-Go away.

Prototypes

• Ultra Force Aero-Bot (Revealed at UK Toy Fair, The only known copy of this toy is in Ed Duncan's personal collection.)

Packaged Sample

• Special Bonus Pack (Strong-Bot, Speed-Bot, Gorilla-Bot)

Kids' Transformers: Rescue Hero Go-Bots

• GO-20　Mini A: Ambulance (ミニＡ・救急ワゴン車)
• GO-21　Mini B: Steam Locomotive (ミニＢ・ＳＬ)
• GO-22　Mini C: Train (ミニＣ・トレイン）)
• GO-23　Mini B&C Set (ミニＢ・Ｃセット)
• GO-24　ATV (４輪バギー)
• GO-25　Motorbike (バイク)
• GO-26　NASCAR (ナスカー)

These figures were all solicited (GO-20 Mini A; Ambulance (ミニＡ・救急ワゴン車) specifically listed on Hobby link japan) but never released.

Alternators/Binaltech

Concepts

• Bumblebee (Volkswagen New Beetle)
• Cliffjumper (Volkswagen New Beetle, retool of Bumblebee with different weapon and new head)
• Tracks (Dodge Viper SRT-10; body ended up as Side Swipe, head was used for Chevrolet Corvette Tracks)
• Trailbreaker (Jeep Wrangler; was released as Swindle in different colors instead)
• Windcharger (Ford Mustang, retool of Grimlock with new head; body ended up as Wheeljack, head was used for Decepticharge)
• Megatron (Cadillac XLR Convertible, unreleased due to the hiatus of the line.)

Prototypes

Jazz, not Meister. And Smoke... streak?

• Jazz (Porsche 986 Boxster)
• Smokescreen (Subaru Impreza WRX, Deluxe-sized)
• Autobot Tracks (Chevrolet Corvette Z06, yellow version; intended to be released by Hasbro with a running change to blue later down the road, but ultimately only released in blue; yellow version released in Japan)
• Blackwidow (Honda S2000, prototype sporting the long gun barrel and right-hand steering wheel of Binaltech Overdrive and the head sculpt, hardtop roof and rear spoiler of Alternators Decepticharge, originally announced as Wildrider but then given a deco based on Beast Wars Blackarachnia; ultimately released in Japan in new colors as Binaltech Arcee)

Smallest Transforming Transformers

Prototypes

• Skids
• Tracks
• Stock and silencer accessories for Megatron

Attacktix

Prototypes

• Uh... the entire second wave, pretty much.

Universe (2003)

Prototypes

• Battle in a Box Smokescreen with Jolt vs. Drench with Wind Sheer
• Menasor - a redeco of Machine Wars Ultra-sized Optimus Prime as the Stunticon leader ("Motormaster" was unavailable as a trademark).
• Spacewarp
• Halloween Horrorcon Value Pack Leatherhide vs. Blackarachnia
• Halloween Horrorcon Value Pack Nightprowler vs. Waspinator
• An unknown-name redeco of Beast Machines Ultra Class Jetstorm

Energon

Packaged samples

2 HOT 4 U!

• Mini-Cons Brakedown, Override, and Clocker were originally intended to come with Energon Ultra Magnus, but were swapped out at essentially the last possible minute for a redecoed Space Mini-Con Team. (The Street Speed Mini-Cons are still listed on both sides of the US packaging, though the European version and the Japanese "USA Edition" release both fixed that to different degrees.)

Titanium Series

Two for the price of... none.

Cybertron Heroes

Prototypes

• Soundblaster redeco of Soundwave with Ravage
• Primal Prime redeco of Optimal Optimus
• Arcee
• War Within Bumblebee
• War Within Cliffjumper (Bumblebee redeco/retool with a new head sculpt)
• Cosmos
• Shockwave

Revoltech

Prototypes

• Energon Optimus Prime

Cybertron

Buried by his namesake.

Concepts

• Landslide

Prototypes

• More Mini-Con partners for Soundwave
• A Scrapmetal redeco

Classics

Concepts

Tapedeck superior SUV inferior!

• Cosmos
• Soundwave

Prototypes

• "Ghost" Jetfire
• A Deluxe Class Optimus Prime that looks a lot like the Voyager Class version, with fixed on knee parts. Apparently, an early plan was for this toy to be released without a trailer at the Deluxe price point, and with a trailer at the Voyager price point. It's unclear whether the trailer ever made it past the early planning stage before the decision was made to uspscale Optimus to Voyager size.

Heroes

• Rhinox
• Hot Rod (or "Rodimus")

Transformers: Heroes was a planned series that eventually evolved into Animated.

Beast Wars Telemocha Series

Concepts

• Flytrap
• Rage
• Manticon

Chrono Label

Prototypes

• Autoceptor
• Time Limit

Animated

You'll never find me! Hahahaha!

Prototypes

• Toxic Oil Slick
• Fugitive Waspinator
• Vortex Blurr
• Mercenary Swindle
• Goldfire Grimlock (Voyager Class)
• Electromagnetic Soundwave (Activator)
• Hot Shot
• Marauder Megatron

Packaged samples

• Thundercracker (Voyager Class)
• Mudbuster Bulkhead (Voyager Class)

Revenge of the Fallen

Prototypes

• Unite for the Universe Jet Power Optimus Prime
• Unite for the Universe Megatron

United

Prototypes

• Blue Bumble from Classics/Henkei! Henkei! Bumblebee
• Swindle (with Ravage?) from Universe/Henkei! Henkei! Hound

Crossovers

Prototypes

• Iron Man (New mold, transforms into a futuristic tricycle)

• War Machine (New mold, combines with the Iron Man above in vehicle mode)

• The Punisher (retool of Captain America, released with new head as Iron Man)

• the Human Torch (blue redeco of his existing figure)

• The Thing (retool of the bulldozer Hulk mold)

Star Wars Transformers

Prototypes

• Darth Maul (Smaller Class I figure)

Transformers (2010)

Averted by the FIBRIR crowd.

Packaged samples

• Bodyblock (Breacher redeco)
• Demolition Rumble (sculpt/character released under United in Japan)
• Downshift (Hubcap redeco)

Dark of the Moon

Prototypes

• Blaster (Redeco of Soundwave with new head, displayed with other prototypes at Hascon 2017)

Movie Trilogy Series

Kill all Generation 1 homages.

Packaged samples

• Wheeljack (redeco colored as an homage to Generation 1 Wheeljack, using the toy's alternate head; later released by TakaraTomy as part of the Movie Advanced Series, albeit with the deco changed to moreso match his G1 namesake.)

Prototypes

• Bumblebee (redeco of Nitro Bumblebee)
• Ratchet (redeco colored as an homage to Generation 1 Ratchet; later released by TakaraTomy as part of the Movie Advanced Series)
• Soundwave (redeco colored as an homage to Generation 1 Soundblaster; later released as "Darkside Soundwave" by TakaraTomy as part of the Movie Advanced Series)
• Evac (re-release of the Universal Studios figure)

Kre-O

• Hound Kreon based on Generation 1 Hound (helmet used much later for Custom Kreon Hound, Age of Extinction Kreon Hound and "Class of 1984" Kreon Hound, but none of them sported the saturated green colors and chest deco of the figure displayed at BotCon 2011)
• Kre-O Mini-Con Combiner Bumblebee
• Kre-O Mini-Con Combiner Optimus Prime
• "Soccer" Bumblebee kreon
• "Summer" Drift kreon
• Battle Changer Drift (with Jetstorm and Slipstream)
• Battle Changer Blitzwing
• All of Kreon Warriors Collection 3

Prime

Prototypes

• A redeco and retool of Deluxe Class Ratchet with the toy's alternate head, possibly as Gears
• A Hasbro release of Deluxe Class Ironhide (released in Japan)
• A redeco and retool of Deluxe Class Rumble with the toy's alternate head as Frenzy
• A retool of the 2014 Deluxe Class Smokescreen sculpt with an added lightbar, presumably as Prowl.

Construct-Bots

Prototypes

• Starscream (Scout Arsenal Pack)
• Bumblebee (Scout Arsenal Pack)
• Wheeljack (Elite Arsenal Pack)
• Soundwave (Elite Arsenal Pack)
• Galvatron (Dinobot Rider)
• Starscream (Dinobot Rider)

Solicited

• Bludgeon (Scout)
• Bulkhead (Scout)
• Shockwave (Dinobot Rider, was supposed to have been in the third wave instead of Starscream)
• Galvatron (Dinobot Warrior)

There was to be a third wave of Dinobots, but only their code names, "Drago", "Apollo", and "Stallion", are known.

Bot Shots

Prototypes

• Hydrax
• Prowl
• Rom the Space Knight
• Strafe
• Skystalker
• Smokescreen
• Soundwave
• Hun-Gurrr Launcher (Series 2 Wave 3)
• Starscream Launcher (Series 2 Wave 3)
• Bluestreak Launcher (Series 2 Wave 4)
• Buzzclaw Launcher (Series 2 Wave 4)
• Combaticons (Series 2, Wave 3 5-Pack: Blast Off, Decepticon Brawl, Onslaught, Swindle, Vortex)
• Protectobots (Series 2, Wave 3 5-Pack: Protectobot Blades, Protectobot First Aid, Protectobot Groove, Protectobot Hot Spot, Protectobot Streetsmart)

Solicited

• "TRA BOT SHOTS RING OF FIRE BATTLE PACK A5112"
• "TRA BOT SHOTS STUNT AND SPEED BUMBLEBEE A1672"
• "TRA BOT SHOTS STUNT AND SPEED GALVATRON A1673"
• "TRA BOT SHOTS STUNT AND SPEED PACKS A1671"
• "TRA BOT SHOTS STUNT N SPEED DLX AST A1668"
• "TRA BOT SHOTS STUNT N SPEED METRO TITAN A1670"
• "TRA BOT SHOTS STUNT N SPEED METROPLEX A1669"
• "TRA BS 3 PK DINOBOT A3032"

Hero Mashers

Solicited

• Robots in Disguise Jazz
• Robots in Disguise Quillfire
• Robots in Disguise Thunderhoof
• Robots in Disguise Fracture
• Robots in Disguise Drift
• Robots in Disguise Bisk

Battle Masters

Prototypes

• Lockdown

Angry Birds Transformers

Prototypes

• Acid Storm Pig
• Autobird Ratchet
• Epic Optimus Prime Bird
• Shockwave Pig

Transformers: EZ Collection

Prototypes

• Turbo Cycle
• Beachcomber

Generations

Solicited

• Brawn and Mudslinger
• Gnaw and Gnash

Titans Return

Solicited

• Toraizer
• Optimus Primal

Both figures were initially listed in Toys"R"Us computers and at the German division of Amazon. At San Diego Comic-Con 2018, Hasbro Design Manager John Warden confirmed that Optimus Primal would have been a retool of Apeface.

Earthspark

• DX Series Prowl

Unused pretool heads

In recent years, Hasbro and TakaraTomy have begun to design toys with retools in mind from the get-go, and thus have created alternate head sculpts and other parts that are often gang-molded with the original release's parts. Those head sculpts are created as prototypes, which occasionally leak out to the public, and sometimes show up in the instructions for the original release most likely by mistake, though Hasbro representatives have stated that those could also be considered "previews". Sometimes those pretool parts end up unused by Hasbro. Some of these have, however, been used long after the fact by TakaraTomy or Fun Publications. (Some instances where the plans went a step further to the point where an actual deco was created for a planned release of the sculpt using the alternate head are listed either further above, or below, under "exclusives".)

Universe (2008)

• Deluxe Class Sideswipe had an alternate, more stylized head, as depicted in a leaked deco sheet for a cancelled 2011 Sideswipe vs. Reflector 2-pack.

Transformers (2010)

And you are...?

• Reveal the Shield Voyager Class Lugnut had an alternate head depicted in the instructions, which was stated at BotCon 2010 to have been designed without any specific character in mind.
• Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Special Ops Jazz was to be retooled into Thrilling 30 Nightbeat, as depicted in stock photography and package art, but the final toy uses Thrilling 30 Bumblebee.

Dark of the Moon

• Deluxe Class Laserbeak had a different, more realistic bird head depicted in his instructions, which might be either an unused pretool head or an instance of a design change.
• Deluxe Class Soundwave had an alternate Blaster head. A painted prototype was shown on display at HasCon 2017.

Generations

• Deluxe Class Warpath had an alternate Hardhead head depicted in the instructions, intended for a cancelled 2011 Hardhead vs. Ratbat 2-pack.

Fall of Cybertron

• Voyager Class Grimlock had an alternate Beast Wars Transmetal Megatron head. A prototype sporting the head surfaced in early 2013.

Thrilling 30

• Deluxe Class Orion Pax had an alternate Kup head.
• Voyager Class Roadbuster had an alternate Gutcruncher head.

Prime

• Robots in Diguise Autobot Ratchet had an alternate Gears-style head depicted in the instructions. A fan-painted prototype sporting the head surfaced in late 2012.

Universal Studios

• Evac had an alternate Frankenstein's monster head, as discovered by then Hasbro model artist Mark Maher.

Combiner Wars

• Legends Class Bombshell had an alternate Venom head.
• Deluxe Class Trailbreaker had an alternate Hoist head. Fun Publications intended to utilize it for a BotCon 2016 troop builder set of Shattered Glass Autotroopers that did not come to fruition.
• Deluxe Class Rook had an alternate Brawl head, perhaps dating from before Hasbro was confident they could make a dedicated Brawl mold. In a preliminary plan for the Computron multi-pack, Hasbro planned to use this head tooling as Ironfist, under the trademark-friendly name "Ironclad". Fun Publications also had a secondary backup plan for this tooling as the Shattered Glass incarnation of X-Brawn, but neither of these figures came to fruition.
• Voyager Class Cyclonus had an alternate Starscream head.
• Voyager Class Onslaught had an alternate Armada Demolishor head. A prototype sporting the head surfaced in late 2015.
• The Titan Class Devastator multi-pack had alternate heads all six members: four of the Constructicons were based on the Robots in Disguise Build Team, supposedly with Bonecrusher as Wedge, Scavenger as Grimlock, Hook as Hightower and Long Haul as Heavy Load, while the remaining two were based on two of the three "Generation 1" Autobot Double Targetmasters, Scrapper as Scoop and Mixmaster as Quickmix. The combined form would have been Landfill, which is also the name of the third Double Targetmaster.

Titans Return

• The canceled Titan Master Toraizer would probably have been a new head retool of Sawback, which did briefly appear in art form in Legends Vol. 47.
• Titan Master Apeface had an alternate head as Optimus Primal.
• Legends Class Seaspray had an alternate merman-themed head, presumably inspired by the episode "Sea Change".
• Deluxe Class Hot Rod had an alternate head based on the IDW comic incarnation of the character, according to an interview with Hasbro.
• Voyager Class Optimus Prime, having a deco inspired by Star Convoy but mounted with a classic-style Optimus head, had an alternate Star Convoy-styled head, glimpsed in a leaked deco sheet.
• Voyager Class Galvatron had an alternative flip-out crown piece more closely based on his design in the contemporary IDW comics, and comments by John Warden revealed the existence of "an animated Galvatron" alternate head tooling.

Power of the Primes

• Prime Master Micronus / Cloudburst had a decoy armor head retool based on Generation 1 Waverider. TakaraTomy would have redecoed the decoy armor component as a preorder bonus for Legends Grand Maximus, but unfortunately preorders did not reach the necessary goal. Hasbro did, however, release the inner robot as Amalgamous Prime.
• Deluxe Class Cutthroat had an alternate Wildfly head, which was seen on the painted prototype showcased at NYCC 2017.
• Deluxe Class Snarl was shown at HasCon 2017 with a gun accessory that slots over the head in Stegosaurus mode that suggested a Bristleback retool, but it never came to fruition.

Studio Series

• Brawl had an alternate head with an opened mouth.
• Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime had an alternate faceplate-less head, as depicted in an official Transformers social media post. This head, albeit differently painted, was found on one copy of the toy.

Honorable mentions

These heads were ultimately put to use, but only long after the release of the original figure or only for exclusive releases.

• Cybertron Scrapmetal's alternate head was initially only used by TakaraTomy for the exclusive "Coby's Exclusive Rumble" figure, and was later included by Fun Publications with the BotCon 2006 customization class Rumble and Inferno figures' sets, with Rumble using the alternate head.
• The alternate heads for Generations Deluxe Class Sergeant Kup and 2010 Hunt for the Decepticons Voyager Class Highbrow were eventually used for Generations Swerve and Powerdive, both of whom were only made available as part of the "GDO" line-up that was initially intended for Hasbro's East Asian markets, and later brought to North American retail as Toys"R"Us exclusives.
• 2010 Hunt for the Decepticons Deluxe Class Tomahawk's alternate head was ultimately only used by TakaraTomy for Dark of the Moon Vortex and by Fun Publications for the BotCon 2012 exclusive Timelines Spinister figure.
• Meanwhile, 2010 Hunt for the Decepticons Deluxe Class Terradive's alternate head was eventually used for Dark of the Moon Space Case, who was only available as a Target exclusive in the US (and exclusive to other stores in other countries) several years after the fact.
• 2010 Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Perceptor was planned to be redecoed into Reflector. The head sculpt intended for Reflector was later used by TakaraTomy for the e-HOBBY exclusive Generations Magnificus figure.
• 2010 Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Optimus Prime's alternate head was ultimately only used by Fun Publications for the BotCon 2012 exclusive Timelines Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus figure.
• The alternate head sculpt for 2010 Transformers Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Special Ops Jazz shown in the slideshow during the BotCon 2010 Hasbro panel was ultimately only used by Fun Publications for the BotCon 2012 exclusive Timelines Shattered Glass Treadshot figure.
• 2010 Reveal the Shield Deluxe Class Wreck-Gar was designed with no fewer than two alternate head sculpts. One of them, which was shown in Wreck-Gar's instructions, was used for Generations Junkheap shortly thereafter, whereas the other one was initially only used by TakaraTomy for the e-HOBBY exclusive United Scrapheap figure, then later by Fun Publications for the BotCon 2012 exclusive Timelines Shattered Glass Scrap Iron figure and finally much, much later by Hasbro for the "Junkion Scrapheap" figure included with the Platinum Edition "Planet of Junk Clash" set.
• Combiner Wars Legends Class Shockwave had an alternate Reflector head which ultimately saw release only as BotCon 2016 Reflector and Flash Sentry from Fun Publications.
• Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Skydive has an alternate Starscream head that was only used by TakaraTomy (as "Ghost Starscream") for the Unite Warriors Grand Galvatron set, by Fun Publications for the Transformers Figure Subscription Service exclusive Combiner Wars Shattered Glass version of Starscream, and then by TakaraTomy again for "Golden Lagoon" Starscream.
• Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Protectobot First Aid has an alternate Ratchet head that was only used by Fun Publications for the BotCon 2016 custom class Autobot Ratchet figure and by TakaraTomy for the Unite Warriors Lynxmaster set

Exclusives

Conventions

Transcon

Concepts

• Albitron and Swoop. These figures were advertised as convention exclusives by Men in Black Productions, but never materialized.

OTFCC

Why, 3H? Why????

Concepts

• Brawn
• Devcon
• Megatron (post-Beast Machines)
• Roadbuster

Prototypes

• Defensor
• A limited redeco of Defensor as Midnight Shield Defensor
• Alpha Trion
• Fractyl
• Devcon

Wonder Festival

Packaged samples

• Convoy was planned as a black redeco of the Classics Optimus Prime sculpt, but marketed as a black version of the heroic Convoy character with Autobot faction insignias, not as a Nemesis Prime/Black Convoy character. He would have been released under the Henkei! Henkei! toy line's Gentei! Gentei! range of exclusives. A minor redeco was eventually released years later as a Tokyo Toy Show 2012 exclusive under the United toy line, now named "Black Optimus Prime" and sporting Decepticon insignias.

Store

Robots in Disguise (2001)

Prototypes

• Hasbro-release Fortress Maximus (intended as BigBadToyStore / Action Figure Xpress / Entertainment Earth / Marz Distribution / FAO Schwarz shared exclusive)

Commemorative Series

Prototypes

• Ramjet
• Megatron (was going to be released in a bright orange and blue, but canceled because it still looked too much like a gun)

Solicited

• Trailbreaker
• Ironhide
• Thrust

Universe (2003)

Prototypes

I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?

• Toxitron
• Megatron (Energon redeco)/Soundwave (Smallest Transforming Transformers) two-pack (intended for Target)
• Optimus Prime (Energon redeco)/Optimus Prime (Smallest Transforming Transformers) two-pack (intended for Target)
• Smokescreen vs. Drench (Battle in a Box, intended for Target, Drench was later modified to become Timelines/Shattered Glass Sideswipe)
• Spacewarp with Space Mini-Con Team (intended for Toys"R"Us, Spacewarp was later modified to become Timelines/Cybertron Astrotrain with a new head sculpt and different Mini-Cons)
• "Halloween Horrorcons" Leatherhide vs. Blackarachnia (intended for Walmart)
• "Halloween Horrorcons" Nightprowler vs. Waspinator (intended for Walmart)

Transformers (2007)

Packaged samples

Would you like to play with my gunbarrel?

• Backtrack (intended for Target)
• Decepticon Reverb (intended for Target)
• Gunbarrel (intended for Target)

In early 2010, about two years after the first samples had surfaced, considerable quantities of the three unreleased Scouts were sold on eBay. Each of them came packaged with two instruction sheets, one in English and one in Spanish, suggesting that the batch was initially intended for the Mexican market. However, based on information from Mexican fans, the toys never actually made it to retail there.

Transformers (2010)

Shanghaied!

Megatron rising... not today.

Prototypes

• Blue Maximus vs. Crosshairs (redecos of Revenge of the Fallen Ransack and Rollbar)
• Drydock vs. Undertow (redecos of Revenge of the Fallen Depthcharge and Cybertron Shortround)

Packaged samples

• "Sideways Sneak Attack" multi-pack (intended for Target), containing:

• Sideways (Deluxe Class)
• Arcee (Legends Class)
• Chromia (Legends Class)
• Elita-One (Legends Class)

• "Megatron Rising" five pack, containing:

• Megatron (Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Class Megatron redeco)
• Long Haul (Legends Devastator component)
• Mixmaster (Legends Devastator component)
• Rampage (Legends Devastator component, yellow deco)
• Scrapper (Legends Devastator component, red redeco)

Dark of the Moon

So close...

Packaged samples

• "Autobot Team Racers" (intended for Target), contains:

• Leadfoot (MechTech Deluxe Class)
• Topspin (MechTech Deluxe Class)

• Leader Class Sentinel Prime and Bonus Value Deluxe Class Nitro Bumblebee (intended for Walmart)

Generations

I can haz toy? Plzz?

Concepts

• Hardhead vs. Ratbat (intended for Toys"R"Us)
• Sideswipe vs. Reflector (intended for Toys"R"Us)

Hardhead, Ratbat and Reflector would have been redecos of Generations Deluxe Class Warpath and Scourge and Reveal the Shield Perceptor, respectively, using the alternate heads which were depicted their instructions in some cases. While Hardhead's head was ultimately never used at all, TakaraTomy later released their own version of Ratbat (in different colors) under their Generations line, and an exclusive redeco of Perceptor using the Reflector head as the e-HOBBY exclusive Magnificus figure. Sideswipe, meanwhile, would have been a redeco of the 2008 Universe Deluxe Class figure in Generation 2 colors. Curiously, the Universe Sideswipe sculpt had already been used in Generation 2 colors as the BotCon 2010 exclusive customization class figure at least a year before the deco sheet for this unreleased figure was created, albeit with a slightly different color and deco layout. He might or might not have sported a different head sculpt that was ultimately never used.

Packaged samples

• Brawn (intended as part of the "GDO" lineup for Hasbro's Asian markets, with the possibility of a later U.S. release as a Toys"R"Us exclusive. The head sculpt would later be used for the TakaraTomy release of Cloud Brawn, using a different deco.)

Be glad that the Retro magenta one didn't get canned too!

• Legacy Velocitron Speedia 500 Hot Rod (intended for Walmart)

This G1 toy-accurate redeco of Studio Series 86-04 Hot Rod was meant to be the sole second-wave voyager figure for Walmart's exclusive Velocitron capsule. Hot Rod was supposedly unplanned for release according to Hasbro and Walmart passed on buying him... but they put up a product page for him anyway, though was never made available for purchase. Hasbro also said they're looking for alternative avenues for releasing him but so far nothing has come of this.

Miscellaneous

Concepts

• A supposed Hooligan
• A supposed Megatron
• A supposed Starscream
• A supposed Optimus Prime

Statues/Busts

Walking the... cat?

Prototypes

• Transformers vs GI. Joe Baroness and Ravage.
• A Soundwave bust that didn't work well once it was downscaled for release.

Palisades Toys

• Red Alert

Diamond Select Toys

Prototypes

• Megatron (Bust Banks)
• Optimus Prime (Bust Banks)
• Powermaster Optimus Prime (Mini Busts)
• Sunstorm (Mini Busts)

Merchandise

Super Hybrid Model

Prototypes

• Arcee
• Rodimus Prime

Q-Robo Collection Figure

Concept Art

• All of wave 2

Titanium Series

The star wouldn't leave his trailer.

Prototypes

• Sunstreaker (redeco of Side Swipe)
• Cliffjumper (redeco of Bumblebee)
• Soundwave
• Nemesis Prime (redeco of War Within Optimus Prime)

Solicited

• War Within Megatron
• Jetfire
• Soundblaster
• Silverstreak
• Black RODIMUS
• Shockwave
• Ultra Magnus
• Grimlock

Robot Heroes

Sooooooooo cute.

Packaged samples (final packaging)

• Optimus Prime & Megatron (Robots in Disguise Series)
• Prowl & Laserbeak (Generation 1 Series)
• Victory Saber & Dessaras (Generation 1 Series)
• Optimus Primal & Jetstorm (Beast Machines Series)

Titan Warriors

Solicited

• Bumblebee
• Shockwave
• Wheeljack

These figures were all meant to be a part of the 2014 Generation One assortment. Their names were on the backs of the tags included with the released figures, with Wheeljack's being covered up with a sticker. Bumblebee and Shockwave were most likely kept because of the Beast Hunters figures that shared the name.

When is an unreleased toy not an unreleased toy?

Toys released in international markets

Not the focus of this article.

Quite a few of toys are effectively "unreleased" as far as Hasbro's United States market is concerned, but have been released in other Hasbro markets such as Canada, Latin America, Australia, Asia (usually not counting Japan, which is Takara's home turf, unless they explicitly come in Hasbro packaging), and/or Europe. For the purpose of this article, any toy that saw an official release in any Hasbro market does not qualify as "unreleased". Examples include:

Things that do exist.

• Animorphs Jake Stingray/Manta and Taxxon/Alien (released in parts of Europe)
• Armada Powerlinx Thrust's red running change variant (released in Israel, Europe and in Japan as a "USA Edition")
• Universe (2008) Robot Heroes Ricochet & Predaking and Tigatron & Inferno (released in Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Germany)
• Transformers Animated Bumper Battlers Workzone Bulkhead and Stealth Ninja Jazz (released in Australia and Mexico)
• The original, non-AllSpark Power version of the 2007 Transformers movie toyline's Leader Class Nightwatch Optimus Prime (released in the United Kingdom and Japan)
• Revenge of the Fallen Fast Action Battlers Spark Blast Jolt (released in Germany)
• A Revenge of the Fallen Fast Action Battlers Rally Mudflap & Offroad Skids two-pack (released in Asia and Australia; despite misconceptions based on early solicitations, it appears these figures were never intended to be released individually)
• Dark of the Moon Deluxe Class Soundwave and Wheeljack (released in Japan through TakaraTomy, despite also being solicited by Hasbro)
• Dark of the Moon Human Alliance Soundwave (released in Asian markets such as Singapore and Taiwan)
• Transformers: Prime: Beast Hunters Cyberverse Legion Class Rot Gut, Divebomb, Bluestreak, and Ace Vehicon (released in Europe, Australia and South America)
• Transformers: Prime: Beast Hunters Cyberverse Commander Class Unicron Megatron, Ultra Magnus, and Decepticon Bludgeon (released in Asia, Europe and Canada)
• Transformers: Prime: Beast Hunters Deluxe Class Bumblebee, Twinstrike, Smokescreen, and Windrazor (released in Asia and Europe)

Toys that underwent significant design changes

Not Shot.

In some instances, a toy was never released in its originally intended form, but a toy which sports remnants of the planned version was, thus making it not really an "unreleased" toy in the strictest sense, but still much more than a standard design change.

See "design change" for details.

See also

• Pre-Transformer

External links

• Galleries of various unreleased toys (photos compiled from various websites and eBay auctions)
• Dairycon 2008 report featuring the concepts for the supposed Hooligan, Starscream, Megatron and Optimus Prime