The Energon Pub

Sun Jul 27, 2025 10:51 pm

This question goes out to all you Hot Wheels collectors.

Does the Basic/Mainline HW come in 2 different size carded packaging? I'm familiar with the regular carded packaging but heard there is also a smaller carded packaging. Or is it a KO? It's in reference to the G1 Optimus Prime cab.

Thanks.

Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:30 pm

Color Change Tracks are showing up in US retail stores.

There are 2 per case but that doesn't make it any easier to find.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · Sat Sep 06, 2025 1:43 pm

megatran wrote:Color Change Tracks are showing up in US retail stores.

There are 2 per case but that doesn't make it any easier to find.

I picked up mine back on 8/24 at Walmart (posted it in the haul thread that day), didn't even realize it was a new sighting at the time. I'm surprised they're two per case, they had 5 between 2 pegs. No I wish I took a picture. The other Walmart that I usually hit twice a week also got them in, but someone grabbed all of the Tracks (along with case worth of AotP Sideways that had been on the pegs a few days earlier).

Emerje

Sun Sep 07, 2025 6:08 am

The 2 color change Transformers per case is quoted from william-james88' earlier post, who quoted Entertainment Earth.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · Sun Sep 07, 2025 7:45 am

megatran wrote:The 2 color change Transformers per case is quoted from william-james88' earlier post, who quoted Entertainment Earth.

I wonder if Walmart got a different assortment, there's no way they stuck three boxes on two pegs.

Emerje

Sun Sep 07, 2025 10:54 pm

Emerje wrote:
megatran wrote:The 2 color change Transformers per case is quoted from william-james88' earlier post, who quoted Entertainment Earth.

I wonder if Walmart got a different assortment, there's no way they stuck three boxes on two pegs.

Emerje

Sounds even better, if true. Can't complain with more additional Transformers per case.

Sat Sep 13, 2025 1:13 am

Mattel Creations is releasing a Nemesis Prime variant to compliment the Optimus Prime that no one except scalpers were able to obtain. Same will apply here.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · Sat Sep 13, 2025 11:29 am

megatran wrote:Mattel Creations is releasing a Nemesis Prime variant to compliment the Optimus Prime that no one except scalpers were able to obtain. Same will apply here.

I was able to get one. Let's see if I can make it 2 for 2.

Emerje

News Credits: 4877 · Sat Sep 13, 2025 4:07 pm

If Mattel has got something over Hasbro, it’s their lack of leaks. While we all assumed their exclusive transforming Hot Wheels Optimus Prime would be turned into Nemesis Prime, we didn’t get word of it until they wanted us to, with a full reveal just days before the product’s launch. It will be on sale exclusively on their website September 16, 2025 at 09:00 am Pacific Time. The price is $65.00 USD + shipping + taxes and it will probably sell out soon after it goes live. So any bellyaching regarding the price will fall on deaf ears.
As with the original release, anyone wanting it will have to order it the moment it goes up or pay more on the secondary market (or else never get it).

As reported earlier in the year, this is a great example of Hasbro ceding its hold on Transformers toys that transform since this is a Mattel product, created by their designers, rather than it being made by Hasbro.

You can check out all the images below. And here is the product page:

https://creations.mattel.com/en-ca/prod ... cC-HeVFw8v

News Credits: 332 · Sat Sep 13, 2025 5:42 pm

Don't ask me how I know this, but Mattel has a few "Fixers" on the Payroll who make sure leaks don't get out.

Sat Sep 13, 2025 11:32 pm

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Don't ask me how I know this, but Mattel has a few "Fixers" on the Payroll who make sure leaks don't get out.

Why am I thinking Pinkerton? The same mob used by Wizards of the Coast a few years back to retrieve Magic The Gathering cards from a person's house because it was before the official release date, IIRC.

Sat Sep 13, 2025 11:43 pm

Emerje wrote:
megatran wrote:Mattel Creations is releasing a Nemesis Prime variant to compliment the Optimus Prime that no one except scalpers were able to obtain. Same will apply here.

I was able to get one. Let's see if I can make it 2 for 2.

Emerje

You are an outlier. Got my fingers crossed for ya.

I wonder if this release will have better QC, especially the paint job. Optimus was criticised for having inconsistent paint application and paint chipping.

News Credits: 332 · Sat Sep 13, 2025 11:46 pm

megatran wrote:
chuckdawg1999 wrote:Don't ask me how I know this, but Mattel has a few "Fixers" on the Payroll who make sure leaks don't get out.

Why am I thinking Pinkerton? The same mob used by Wizards of the Coast a few years back to retrieve Magic The Gathering cards from a person's house because it was before the official release date, IIRC.

Shhh, not so loud.

Sun Sep 14, 2025 11:28 pm

chuckdawg1999 wrote:
megatran wrote:
chuckdawg1999 wrote:Don't ask me how I know this, but Mattel has a few "Fixers" on the Payroll who make sure leaks don't get out.

Why am I thinking Pinkerton? The same mob used by Wizards of the Coast a few years back to retrieve Magic The Gathering cards from a person's house because it was before the official release date, IIRC.

Shhh, not so loud.

* gets a knock on the front door by men wearing trench coats *

News Credits: 332 · Tue Sep 16, 2025 11:29 am

Well nemesis Prime sold out. Had two in the cart, and was waiting 15 minutes to check out. By the time I got to the screen to pay it was gone. I think it was a combination of people who missed out the first time, and people who saw how much Optimus is going for on the secondary market.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Sep 16, 2025 4:24 pm

I tried my hand at getting it, but missed out. Judging by my lack of feeling, it's probably for the best. I'm more excited for the TF side of of the crossover than this one.

Tue Sep 16, 2025 11:27 pm

Scalpers win again... At the expense of fans.

MyFigureCollection.net collection · Wed Sep 17, 2025 9:53 am

Well, I forgot, and I knew I would because I was busy, but I set an alarm on my phone for it, but it didn't go off, it just sent me a silent notification. I keep my phone muted usually and normally it vibrates loudly until I turn the alarm off, no idea why it didn't do it this time.

Emerje

Wed Sep 17, 2025 5:06 pm

Sold out while I had it in my cart with one minute to check out. Was hoping I could go 2 for 2.

Wed Sep 17, 2025 11:58 pm

Optimus Eeyore wrote:Sold out while I had it in my cart with one minute to check out. Was hoping I could go 2 for 2.

Will you be purchasing on the secondary/scalper market?

Thu Sep 18, 2025 8:14 pm

To answer your question, Megatran, Scalpers can go to hell! Scalpers can go to hell and they can die! To paraphrase Mr. Hat.

Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:14 pm

Optimus Eeyore wrote:To answer your question, Megatran, Scalpers can go to hell! Scalpers can go to hell and they can die! To paraphrase Mr. Hat.

I'm not into Hot Wheels. But I can't even find in store the HW mainline/basic Optimus Prime cab or the yellow G1 Bumblebee. These aren't even supposed to be rare. And I refuse to pay scalpers prices.

News Credits: 2 · Sat Sep 20, 2025 8:28 pm

megatran wrote:
Optimus Eeyore wrote:To answer your question, Megatran, Scalpers can go to hell! Scalpers can go to hell and they can die! To paraphrase Mr. Hat.

I'm not into Hot Wheels. But I can't even find in store the HW mainline/basic Optimus Prime cab or the yellow G1 Bumblebee. These aren't even supposed to be rare. And I refuse to pay scalpers prices.

Me either, but I did want the Goldbug version. After a few random checks at Wal-mart, and I got the yellow Bee instead. Never did see a gold one.

Sun Sep 21, 2025 2:32 am

Hero Alpha wrote:
megatran wrote:
Optimus Eeyore wrote:To answer your question, Megatran, Scalpers can go to hell! Scalpers can go to hell and they can die! To paraphrase Mr. Hat.

I'm not into Hot Wheels. But I can't even find in store the HW mainline/basic Optimus Prime cab or the yellow G1 Bumblebee. These aren't even supposed to be rare. And I refuse to pay scalpers prices.

Me either, but I did want the Goldbug version. After a few random checks at Wal-mart, and I got the yellow Bee instead. Never did see a gold one.

You got the yellow Bee!!! ;)^

News Credits: 4877 · Mon Oct 06, 2025 1:15 pm

Great news for those who have yet to find Hot Wheels Optimus Prime. We are referring to the cab only casting which was released in the mainline in 2025 and that's been a real pain to get for any fan. Well, it seems Hot Wheels will treat this casting as they do their "screentime" castings where it will be on rotation for rerelease. Meaning that the exact same casting will be rereleased in the same deco, which you never see in the mainline for their more standard cars (ie: the same Lamborghini Centenario wouldn't get rereleased with the same colors again).
Thanks to this video below, we know it will be released in the B case in 2026, so we should see it hit shelves again in January 2026. There is only one per case but as with all regular Hot Wheels, it will also be made available in the next case (case C) too.

Basically, the supply of Optimus Prime will double in 2026, bringing prices down and giving everyone another shot at owning him or finding him in stores.