Since neither of us could make it out to this years Botcon we thought that we would post a summary of lins to both Seibertron.com and TFW2005.com's coverage since both US news sites often get "special access" to the show.

Seibertron.com

#BotCon2016 'Dawn of the Predacus' Box Set Images: Tripredacus, Ravage, Tarantulas, plus Terrorsaur

#BotCon2016 Exclusive Souvenirs Images: Megatron, Airazor, Tigatron, Unit-3, Reflector, Custom Class

#BotCon2016 Exclusive Souvenir Bios and Artwork

#Botcon2016 Galleries: Hasbro Floor Display - Warrior Bisk, Warrior Scatterspike, Titans Return, Robots in Disguise and More

#BotCon2016 Hasbro Floor Display: Robots in Disguise Products

#BotCon2016 Titans Return: Powermaster Optimus, Voyager Astrotrain, Wheelie, More

#BotCon2016 Generations Combiner Wars Box Sets: Victorion and G2 Bruticus

#BotCon2016 Generations Alt-Modes, Merchandise and Miscellaneous

#BotCon2016 Confirmation and First Look at Transformers Titans Return Wolfwire and Highbrow

#BotCon2016 Videos: Promotional Clips, Robots in Disguise Windblade, Ratchet, Titans Return Fort Max

TFW2005.com

Botcon 2016 Hasbro Display Platinum and Combiner Wars Images

Botcon 2016 Hasbro Titans Return Display Images – First Glimpses at Wolfwire, Highbrow, Alpha Trion, Getaway Titanmaster & More!

Botcon 2016 Robots in Disguise Display Images – First Looks at Warrior Bisk, Ratchet, Scatterspike & More!

Botcon 2016 – Apparel and Misc Merchandise Display Pics

Botcon 2016 Boxset In-hand Images

Botcon 2016 Souvenir Exclusives In-hand Images

Long time friend of the website Nic "Duckstar" Hughes tweeted out an image of the letter confirming that this year is the last official Botcon Transformers convention. This is the first official statement put out by Hasbro since their decision to expire Fun Publications license between October and December of last year.  Our sources within Hasbro tell us that plans are being made for future celebrations but that is is very much early days and that nothing is finalised.  

It remains to be seen as to whether Fun Publications decide to carry on running a non-official Botcon convention or whether they will simple leave the space rather than compete more directly with other unlicensed shows.

It's official #botcon2016 is the last Botcon in its current format. pic.twitter.com/YDJm2YMd4C

— Nic Hughes (@duck_star) April 7, 2016

Hasbro and Xiaomi, a large electronic comany in China, have teamed up to create this Xiaomi Mi Pad 2 which transforms to Decepticon Soundwave.

“Xiaomi and Hasbro are collaborating for the first time crowdfunding a kickass robot model named Soundwave in China. Instead of a vehicle transforming into a robot, this time, it’s Mi Pad 2 that gets the Transformers treatment. How cool is that? 

R&D worked really hard to ensure that the color, details and feel are exactly the same as Mi Pad 2. They were challenged at turning such a slim 7mm tablet into a 3D robot, but they managed to do so with a 30-step folding assembly.”

Weibo user Starscream and AC Toys user Toys2016 have provided In-Hand Images and a Pictorial Review of the toy.

Xiomi Soundwave even comes with a transforming minion, Ratbat, and a transforming weapon and a shield which certainly adds a good value for the price tag of $20

TFYuki has been busy on Twitter over the last week posting up grey prototype images of the Transformers Unite Warriors Technobots.

UWコンピューティコン、テックボット狙撃員ストレイフ！機体前方に左右から延びるライフルも取り外して手に持てる様にしてあります。 pic.twitter.com/No0jBtdejA

— TF YUKI (@TFYUKI) 4 April 2016

UWコンピューティコン、テックボット砲撃員ノーズコン！　折角の初期ＴＦでは珍しいドリルロボですから、ドリルを立派にしています！また、ドリルは取り外して腕に付ける事も可能に、付属パーツを多めにして遊べるヤツに仕上げてあります♪ pic.twitter.com/G0lI9gNtJN

— TF YUKI (@TFYUKI) 3 April 2016

UWコンピューティコン、テックボット探索員ライトスピード！製品では右腕に持っている銃が２丁入っていて、ビークルモード時に車体の左右に取り付ける事が出来る様になります。 pic.twitter.com/TuOkYKl5cG

— TF YUKI (@TFYUKI) 2 April 2016

UWコンピューティコン、テックボット射撃員アフターバーナー！射撃員らしく専用の銃を持っています♪ pic.twitter.com/wS2qM94eWq

— TF YUKI (@TFYUKI) 1 April 2016

UWコンピューティコン、テックボット攻撃指揮官スキャッターショットです！　4月になれば、もっとイロイロと情報が公開出来ると思います♪　お楽しみに！ pic.twitter.com/yDw27SzUT3

— TF YUKI (@TFYUKI) 31 March 2016

昨日のニコ生では判別し辛かったかもしれませんが、UW版コンピューティコンのヘッドです♪　鼻と口があるゴーグルアイタイプで、アニメデザインをベースにアレンジされています！ pic.twitter.com/MzFZqejHsc

— TF YUKI (@TFYUKI) 29 March 2016

FlickeringMyth.com have posted a transcript of the Digital Fronts session held yesterday, in which Transformers: Combiners Wars was covered.

The series is set to consist of 8 episodes and will debut in July.

Below is the summary of the series

Taking place 40 years after the great war on Earth, Transformers: Combiner Wars introduces new lore and all-new characters that, combined with the characters fans have known for decades, will bring the Transformers storytelling in a new direction.

The Autobots and Decepticons have disbanded and returned to Cybertron. With the days of Optimus Prime and Megatron over, Cybertron is now ruled by a triumvirate. However, an ancient technology has enabled a new threat, the power for multiple Transformers to combine into one massive, dangerous form: Combiners. Who will stand-up to this threat to ensure that the fragile peace that was 4 million years in the making remains?

A little late but the Facebook page Planet Iacon have posted some scans from from the latest issues of Japanese Hobby Magazines which include some new upcoming products from Takara Tomy.

Next up is the new Transformers Titans Return figures. The images include Fortress Maximus, with Master Sword, as well as Legends figures LG21 through LG30.

A little late but the Facebook page Planet Iacon have posted some scans from from the latest issues of Japanese Hobby Magazines which include some new upcoming products from Takara Tomy.

Next up is the new Transformers Unite Warriors Computron figure.

A little late but the Facebook page Planet Iacon have posted some scans from from the latest issues of Japanese Hobby Magazines which include some new upcoming products from Takara Tomy.

First up are the new Transformers Adventure figures including the new Micron interactive figures like Power Surge Optimus, new Decepticon Scorponok, Warrior Windblade and more - check them out after the jump.

Emmy Online have issued a Press Release regarding the Annual Daytime Emmy Awards which include three nominations for Hasbro Studios work on TRANSFORMERS products

You can can the nominations below

Outstanding Special Class Animated Program – Nomination: Transformers Robots in Disguise (Cartoon Network)

• Executive Producers: Stephen Davis, Jeff Kline, Shuzo John Shiota
• Animation Producer: Therese Trujillo
• Producer: Jack Liang
• Line Producer: Masanari Kubo

Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program – Nomination: Jeff Bennet as Mayor Luskey in Transformers Rescue Bots (Discovery Family)

Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program- Nomination: Transformers Rescue Bots (Discovery Family)

• Writers: Nicole Dubuc, Brian Hohfeld, Greg Johnson
• Story Editors: Cydne Clark, Steve Granat, Andrew R. Robinson

Botcon have announced, via their Facebook page, that Aaron Archer shall be a guest thiss years Botcon. Here is a copy of the announcement

"Our other big announcement is that our final guest for BotCon 2016 is none other than Aaron Archer! From the Beast Wars line through Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Aaron has been part of the production of thousands of Transformers toys. Aaron was also part of the Hasbro team that worked with Paramount and Michael Bay to bring the Transformers to life across four films and Transformers: The Ride. During Aaron’s time on Transformers he worked to expand the Transformers mythos beyond toys to publishing, television, movies, video games, and fan conventions."

Having left Hasbro to work on his own thing, Aaron returned to the toy industry giant to work on other brands.

We have found some new trademarks filed with the USPTO by Hasbro Inc. The trademarks are:

1. SCATTERSHOT

You can view all of the details of these and other trademarks within our exclusive Trademark Application area of the website which features trademark applications from 1984 through until the present day.

With Cartoon Network UK showing new Transformers Robots In Disguise episodes twice a week, once on Saturday and once on Sunday, the UK has now caught up with the USA and shall move ahead of the United States next Sunday.  The UK will complete the series on the 16th April with the two-part episode titled Decepticon Island.

You can view the complete UK listings below:

12th March, 2016 – Overloaded (Part 1 & 2)

13th March, 2016 – Metal Meltdown

19th March, 2016 – Suspended

20th March, 2016 – Cover Me

26th March, 2016 – Brainpower

27th March, 2016 – Misdirection

02nd April, 2016 – Bumblebee’s Night Off

03rd April, 2016 – Impounded

09th April, 2016 – Portals

10th April, 2016 – Outstanding

16th April, 2016 – Decepticon Island (Part 1 & 2)

Transformers Asia have posted some new images of MP-11 Masterpiece Ramjet. The figure, a TakaraTomy Mall Limited Edition, will release in Japan on March 19th whereas the rest of the retailers will ship it end of this month on March 31st.

You can view the images after the jump

An official video has been posted over on NicoVideo.jp which features the transformation sequence for the upcoming Masterpiece Beast Convoy (Beast Wars Optimus Primal to Western fans). You can watch the video at http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/1458044905

Hasbro Inc has filed for a patent covering a new piece of technology that would allow children to 3D-scan their toys to their smartphone as well as send them as an output directly to a 3D printer!

The US Patent Office website was updated last week with details that describes Hasbro’s concept as a "rotating platform on which kids can place their toy in order to scan it as a 3D image".  it goes on to describe how the user would then have the ability to incorporate the 3D scan into a game, or output it to a 3D printer.

The application covers the design for a base station, turntable with a manual crank for kids to rotate, a bluescreen style backdrop and a dock for holding on to an iPhone.

The original application can be found here with a more detailed explanation and coverage on 3ders.org.  Late last year Disney's applications for 3D scanning was approved and Hasbro have mentioned 3D printing for their brands several times over the last couple of years.

With Hasbro Inc aiming for more immersive play and cross over of digital and analogue play-time for children, this scanning technology is further evidence of the direction in which they are likely to head.