COUNTDOWN: MPG “Style Gen.” – what might be next?

One thing is for sure in Transformers collecting these days: you can always look forward to there being another Optimus Prime toy on the horizon!

In this case, we’re all turning our attention to the soon-to-be-released MPG-17, which is the fourth (yep!) iteration of the iconic Autobot leader in the now-rebooted Masterpiece line since it began back in 2003, although this new take promises something a little different. After all, it’s the first so-called “Style Gen.” release, which doesn’t especially mean much to us at the moment beyond a bit of marketing blurb, promising a “new interpretation of the transformation difficulty, proportions and details, movement and posing, vehicle play, and weapon play“. Still, that sounds pretty good, and no doubt the toy itself looks swish!

タカラトミーさんにて。新しいMPオプティマス、やたらカッコいい pic.twitter.com/TpWV0eHxoA

— バカラダイ 夏コミケありがとうございました (@gadepon) August 28, 2025

One thing is for sure: this is not your straightforward G1 Prime, as we’ve seen with previous versions. The MPG-17 boasts a blended influence incorporating elements from early Diaclone designs, the Bayverse films, and even the recent War for Cybertron trilogy. It makes for a unique rendition of Optimus far apart from the super-slavish cartoon-accuracy of MP-44 Convoy, giving us at least some indication of what we might expect from MPG’s “Style Gen.” releases moving forward.

But which characters could we see done in a similar form? Let’s look at some possibilities.

#6: Repaints

It surely goes without saying, but presumably there will be at least a few repaints of MPG-17 along the way, no? After all, Optimus recolours are a staple of Transformers, and especially in lines like Masterpiece, historically speaking. True, MP-44 has only clocked up three subsequent uses of the design so far (though rumours persist that behind-the-scenes shenanigans may have been the reason). Nonetheless, it’s far from unreasonable to expect TakaraTomy to want to get their money’s worth with the newly minted mould. A black repaint seems fair game (and no doubt the most predictable overhaul of all the various options), but beyond that, who knows? We wouldn’t bank on them bringing back the more idiosyncratic efforts from the MP-10 era (another Neon Genesis Evangelion crossover feels unlikely!). However, maybe we’ll get some real weird and wonderful stuff besides, including a more overt Bayverse-style offering!

#5: Carbots

Beyond repaints, there’s plenty of speculation to be had about which other characters we may soon see alongside Optimus in the new “Style Gen.” format. TakaraTomy may plan to play it slightly safe and stick to tried-and-tested formulas, which may well include some carbot overhauls, much as we have seen in previous iterations of Masterpiece before this (to say nothing of other toy lines besides). After all, it was MP-12 Lambor that truly demonstrated the stated intention of reproducing a suitably scaled Autobot line-up back in 2012, and, in many ways, if the next MPG release turns out to be another member of the classic Ark crew, then we can likely expect much of the same in this updated aesthetic. Some fans might be disappointed by that, especially as the mere idea of ‘redoing’ an entire roster of Masterpiece collecting is a little daunting, to say the least. Still, it wouldn’t be a great shock either.

#4: Movie cast

If TakaraTomy does want to move the goalposts ever so slightly, they may instead opt for a smattering of 1986 names besides the classic characters of the first two years of the franchise. It may have been almost four decades since their introduction, but the likes of Ultra Magnus, Springer, Kup, Blurr and Arcee still feel decidedly ‘new’ compared to what came before them in some respects, and would signal a statement of intent to do something at least a little different with MPG moving forward. After all, a surprising number of those names have yet to be witnessed in official Masterpiece form, and no doubt many collectors would love another stab at poster boy Hot Rod after MP-28 proved to be a little divisive. The once far-flung future of 2005 may be well in the past now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still look forward to the idea of these characters being brought back at some point!

#3: Decepticons

Heroes need villains to fight. That is a basic tenet of any big high-concept toy line, and Transformers arguably hasone of the largest rosters of bad guys outside of the Big Two comic universes. That said, TakaraTomy has notably favoured the Autobots in previous Masterpiece line-ups, with only the most recognisable evil faces receiving the treatment, outside of a smattering of supposedly dishonourable Diaclone repaints. Still, we can’t help but hope that MPG brings the goods by giving the likes of Megatron a similar overhaul to the upcoming MPG-17 Optimus Prime, taking equal influence from other areas of the brand’s history to craft something truly unique. And sure, that may well mean moving away from the traditional G1-coded gun mode, but hey, let’s get creative, we say!

#2: Later G1

TakaraTomy may surprise us with the areas of G1 it chooses to homage in its updated MPG line, and that could include a wide range of character choices. MP-24 Star Saber is “only” ten years old and we’ve just had a high-end Haslab to boot, but there’s nothing to say this isn’t exactly the kind of name that could be in store for a “Style Gen.” update before too long. After all, we know TakTom love their leaders, so what about Dai Atlas or other similar big-name bots from that era? Or some real curveballs, such as Headmasters, Targetmasters or even Pretenders? It seems increasingly unlikely the further down the list you go, but stranger things have happened.

#1: Non-G1!

If all else fails, perhaps the new MPG roster will go to some truly unexpected places by remembering there’s plenty more to Transformers than just G1! True, the roots of the franchise have been the real bread and butter of Masterpiece so far. Still, we’re already well into a burgeoning Beast Wars crew, and many fans would love to see more of the MPM Masterpiece Movie toys besides. Considering “Style Gen.” appears to be taking heavy stylistic influences from outside the original series, could it be that some of the character choices might also follow suit? The results have the potential to be spectacular if so.

So that’s our list! What might be next?

TTFN