Hasbro Pulse Store Launches with (Sold-Out) Ghostbusters Transformer

Today with start of the New York Toy Fair, Hasbro started things with the launch of Hasbro Pulse which replaces the Hasbro Toy Store. The site does seem geared towards the collector as the selection is much smaller but filled with stuff that has this collector paying attention.

For Transformers fans they seemed to start things off with a impressive bang by the "Echotron" Ecto-1 in G1 style packaging for the Ghostbusters inspired Transformer to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of both franchises. Sadly it didn't last long as the pre-order is no longer available to purchase on the site (how do you sell out a pre-order for a not limited edition toy?). On the bright side the toy is also a GameStop exclusive so can pre-order it there for $49.99. The wait will be long as not coming out until the summer along with a 5-part IDW Transformers & Ghostbusters series that will introduce the character.

Besides that, you can pre-order the next two Masterpiece Edition figures of MP-45 Bumblebee 2.0 and MP-18+ Bluestreak (unclear if they getting Hasbro style MP packaging or going with Takara boxes) along with a wave of Transformers War for Cybertron Deluxe figures. They also have Nerf guns inspired by Fortnite, Deadpool Corps set, Professor X with Hover Chair and bit more.

Price wise, everything seems to be in the MSRP range but Hasbro is offering to wave the $50 fee for Hasbro Pulse Premium to the end of the year to anyone that makes a purchase between 2/15 to 2/23/2019. The membership will offer free shipping in the US, sales, and "other perks". I question its $50 value as will only be recouped via saving on shipping costs if you purchase from the site 5 or so times before the end of the year but since site is brand new it is hard to make a judgement call. Admittedly they are actual off to good start with some of the items they are selling. I planned on getting Bumblebee 2.0 anyway through another retailer so might as well pre-order it now so can get the free membership to give the site a year long try-out. Below is the press release of its launch.

HASBRO REVEALS TRANSFORMERS-GHOSTBUSTERS ECTO-1
COLLABORATIVE FIGURE AND IDW COMIC SERIES

‘More than Meets the Eye’ Collides with ‘Who You Gonna Call?’
For Transformers & Ghostbusters™ 35th Anniversaries

PAWTUCKET, RI – Feb. 15, 2019 – Autobots, Decepticons and ghosts?! Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) and Sony Pictures Consumer Products today revealed the first-ever TRANSFORMERS-Ghostbusters Collaborative figure, the ECTO-1 ECTOTRON, available at GameStop summer of 2019 and for pre-order starting February 15 at HasbroPulse.com, GameStop and EB Games Canada. This year marks the 35th anniversary of both the TRANSFORMERS brand & the original Ghostbusters film.

When fans of the iconic Ecto-1 from the 1984 Ghostbusters movie look a little closer at this nostalgic interpretation of the car, they will be treated with a new “robot in disguise” named ECTOTRON, a converting Paranormal Investigator. The figure is packed in a G1-inspired box featuring classic tech specs and comes with its own proton pack and Slimer accessory, and converts between two modes in 22 steps – a seven inch Ecto-1 vehicle and a TRANSFORMERS robot.

TRANSFORMERS robots have always been more than meets the eye, but now, through the TRANSFORMERS Collaborative, fans can experience these larger than life characters as they team-up, mash-up and meet up with other characters, teams and people. It is a world of constant change where things are not what they seem. A combined world of TRANSFORMERS and Ghostbusters where heroic Autobots, evil Decepticons and now ghosts can be discovered!

The Ghostbusters have a new, out of this world teammate and fans will be able to meet the all new TRANSFORMERS character ECTOTRON in his epic origin story by IDW Publishing. A brand new 5-part series from creative team Erik Burnham & Dan Schoening begins in June 2019.

The ECTO-1 ECTOTRON figure is available at GameStop starting Summer of 2019 and for pre-order starting February 15 at HasbroPulse.com, GameStop and EB Games Canada. And be on the lookout for other possible TRANSFORMERS and Ghostbusters items. When these two iconic franchises come together – anything is possible!