Unreleased toy

For every Transformer that makes it to store shelves, there are always some that fall by the way. Lines get canceled, retailers back off on exclusives, designs go over budget, focus groups pass on a concept, or maybe they just weren't cool enough. Regardless of the whys and wherefores, this article aims to document the unreleased toys that never quite saw retail.

Note that this list will likely never be "complete," as for every concept design that makes it into collectors' hands, a countless number wind up in the garbage can.

(Quick! Get to the landfill outside Providence and START DIGGING.)

Generation 1

 * Concept art
 * A Headmaster version of Arcee, based on a repainted Chromedome.


 * New Rodimus


 * Skywarp/Megatron Triplechanger.


 * Megatron/Galvatron Triplechanger.


 * Big Bang


 * Prototypes
 * Two Unicron prototypes were created during G1, neither saw full release.


 * Diaclone Triplechanger - His design was later used for Dropshot.


 * Double Pretenders

Generation "1.5"
(This section is about the line between the US G1 and G2.)
 * Concept art
 * Buffalo Dump


 * Hyperdrive

Generation 2

 * Prototypes
 * General Optimus Prime and Sgt. Hound


 * Greasepit


 * Block Town series


 * Some Go-Bots


 * G.I. Joe Transformer


 * A version of Starscream in jungle colors. Whether this figure would have actually been Starscream or not is unknown.


 * A version of Ramjet in desert colors. Whether this figure would have actually been Ramjet or not is unknown.


 * A repaint of G2 Hero Megatron in a gray and black camouflage.


 * Megatron ATB with Starscream


 * Flipchanger Megatron
 * Packaged Samples
 * Laser Cycle Jazz


 * Laser Cycle Soundwave


 * All of the Stunticons except Motormaster and Breakdown, who was released as a BotCon exclusive.


 * All of the Protectobots except Hot Spot. However, samples of G2 Hot Spot and Motormaster have occasionally shown up on eBay.

Beast Wars

 * Concept art
 * Albitron and Swoop. These figures were advertised as convention exclusives by Men in Black Productions, but never materialized.


 * Prototypes
 * Beast Wars Neo Unicron)
 * Ramulus green version

Beast Machines

 * Concept art


 * Prototypes
 * Megatron

Transtech

 * Concept art
 * Megatron, we don't know which one he was supposed to be.
 * Grimlock? - Draxhall Jump's Website shows concept art for a character that looks a lot like him.
 * Depth Charge
 * Shockwave
 * Silverbolt
 * Soundwave
 * Blackarachnia
 * Nightscream
 * Immorticon


 * Prtototypes
 * Optimus Prime
 * Cheetor
 * Starscream

Robots In Disguise

 * Concepts


 * Prototypes
 * Hasbros RID Fortress Maximus Jet - It was still released in Japan by Takara.

Armada

 * Concepts


 * Prototypes
 * Build to Rule Ramjet


 * Prototypes
 * Space Mini-con team repaint - Although samples of this were found on ebay.

Alternators/Binaltech

 * Concepts
 * VW New Beetle Bumblebee
 * VW New Beetle Cliffjumper
 * Honda S2000 Blackwidow


 * Prototypes
 * Porsche Jazz
 * Scion Ironhide
 * Subaru Impreza WRC Mini Smokescreen

Attacktix

 * Prototypes
 * Uh... the entire second wave, pretty much.

Universe

 * Concepts
 * Prototypes
 * Piranhacons
 * Smokescreen
 * Drench
 * Spacewarp

Energon

 * Concepts


 * Prototypes
 * Target Exclusive Energon Megatron/WST Soundwave twopack.
 * Brakedown
 * Override
 * Clocker
 * Leatherhide

Titanium Series

 * Prototypes
 * Arcee
 * War Within Bumblebee
 * War Within Cliffjumper (unsurprisingly, a Bumblebee redeco.)
 * Cosmos
 * Shockwave

Cybertron

 * Concepts
 * Landslide


 * Prototypes
 * More Minicon partners for Soundwave

Classics

 * Concepts
 * Cosmos
 * Soundwave the upcoming Universe Ironhide seems to use this concept.

Misc

 * Concepts
 * Prototypes
 * Toxitron

BotCon

 * Concepts
 * Devcon


 * Prototypes
 * Defensor
 * Ultra Trion
 * Fractyl
 * Devcon