Over the weekend—Sunday morning to be exact—leaked images surfaced of the upcoming Transformers Studio Series 86 Megatron. Ironically, just a few days prior, I had recorded a Prime Talk episode speculating on this very figure after an earlier leak showing only his arm and fusion cannon.

Initially, I felt like my video was instantly outdated. But on reflection, I think it highlights how close some of my predictions were. It’s a nice full-circle moment to see how those early thoughts line up now that we’ve got full images to break down.

The First Look — Where the Leak Came From

The images I’m referencing—courtesy of TMReviews—were circulating heavily across the usual spots like TFW2005 and social media. The source of the original leak seems unclear, but the “white glove” style photos suggest this might’ve been a semi-official tease rather than a full-on leak. Maybe Hasbro wanted to build buzz before the full fan stream reveal.

Regardless, the images are now out there, and there’s a lot to unpack.

No Backpack? Praise the Matrix!

One of the biggest wins here is the lack of a bulky backpack. Historically, every tank-mode Megatron has suffered from poor kibble management, particularly on the back. This new SS86 version seems to clean up extremely well—most of the tank components fold into the legs or body, giving the robot mode a tight, G1-inspired silhouette.

That alone might elevate this figure into the top-tier Studio Series ranks, right next to Hot Rod and Optimus Prime (the recent Commander Class version). Like Hot Rod, this figure appears to be engineered with precision, clean transformation, solid articulation, and a ton of character accuracy.

G1 Details & Accessories

From what we’ve seen, Hasbro didn’t skimp on the accessories either:

• Fusion Cannon – Cleanly designed and proportioned.

• Sword – The infamous laser blade from The Movie, which Megatron used to stab Optimus.

• Mini-Megatron Gun – A tiny version of his alt-mode, likely designed for Starscream or other Decepticons to hold.

That mini-gun doesn’t have the original G1-style arm stock, but I’m okay with that—it makes it more usable across the current line without requiring awkward hand placement.

That One Nitpick… the Legs

Now for my only gripe: the lower legs.

Instead of black, the shins are molded in a matte, dark gray that just feels off. It clashes with the overall color accuracy of the figure, and I’m unsure why Hasbro went this route. My only theory is it has something to do with how the treads fold into the legs for tank mode. But honestly, it still bugs me.

Even with my KO Masterpiece Megatron and various third-party figures, the insides of the legs are typically solid black or red, not this odd gray.

If they repaint this in a premium deco later down the line, that’s one of the first changes I’d want to see.

Will This Be a Commander Class?

Currently, we don’t know the class size, though most are assuming this will be a Leader Class release. But part of me wonders if Hasbro might try to push this into the Commander Class price point.

If they do, it’ll need to justify the $89.99 price tag. Here’s what I’d expect to make that worth it:

• Paint those legs black – Period.

• Add blast effects – At least 2–3, for the cannon and mini-gun.

• Give us a second head sculpt – A smirking Megatron would be perfect.

• Include his throne – Even if it’s the same one from Coronation Starscream. Throw in a mini diorama piece or the Nemesis bridge setup.

That would turn this from a great figure into a must-buy centerpiece.

Final Thoughts

This is shaping up to be one of the best G1 Megatron figures we’ve gotten in years, especially within mainline releases. It hits the mark in sculpt, function, accessories, and accuracy—aside from that one hiccup with the shins.

I’ll have all the leaked images down in the gallery below so you can take a closer look for yourself. While I don’t plan to cover this again in the upcoming Prime Talk (unless something major drops), I’ll be watching for the official Hasbro reveal. I expect that will happen in the next few days via a livestream or product pipeline update.

Until then, let me know your thoughts in the comments—are you picking this one up? And do you think it’s worthy of Commander Class, or should it stay Leader?