The latest issue of Dengeki Hobby Magazine has revealed that the original Masterpiece line toy designer, Hironori Kobayashi, will be replacing the current designer Shoji Kawamori as the man in charge of all of the 2014 Masterpiece figures with the exception of Star Saber who is being designed by Shoji Kawamori.  Hironori Kobayashi designed the MP-01 through MP-10 at which point Shoji took over and has designed all of the of "new" figures since MP-10.

Credit goes to Autobase Aichi for the news.

Thanks to Altan Cetinkaya for the spot, we now know that Transformers Masterpiece MP10 Platinum Edition Optimus Prime (also known as Year of the Horse Optimus Prime) is coming to Toys R Us in the UK priced at £125.00

http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Toys/Action-Figures-and-Playsets/Transformers-Platinum-Edition-Optimus-Prime%280115657%29?searchPosition=56

Amazon Japan have posted some new images to their listing of the quad-changing Transformers Go TFG26 Optimus Prime.  The figure transforms from Robots into train into Dragon as well as combining with Kenzan and Geiksomaru to form a new triple combination team.

The figure will be released on the 25th Jan 2014 and is currently priced at 4395yen or 25.47GBP (41.92USD).

Actor Mark Wahlberg has been interviewed by TheDailyBeast.com regarding a variety of topics during which he has elaborated on the backstory of Cade Yeager; his character for Transformers: Age Of Extinction.

"With Transformers: Age of Extinction, did you agree to do that one for your kids?

Well, it was exciting because it was the first time my kids were really interested in a movie I was doing. Any time they see me with a gun, like Contraband or Pain & Gain, they want to see that, too, but they can’t because of the language and all that stuff. But I loved working with Michael Bay, and I thought he had a really interesting way to make it new, different, and fresh. Plus, being in movies that have the potential to be hugely successful allows me to make smaller movies that I’m really passionate about.

What’s going to make this Transformers different? The first one was OK, but then the sequels were a total mess.

It was a tighter script, and its own stand-alone thing. I think the emotional core of it, the human element, is going to be extremely powerful. It’s an ordinary man trying to do extraordinary things to save his daughter and keep her alive—and this boyfriend he didn’t know anything about. He’d had a child when he was in high school and his wife passed away, and the promise he’d made to her was that she wouldn’t date any boys until she graduated and that she’d be at the graduation—because we weren’t due to the pregnancy. So there’s an anchor to it and a realness to it that I like a lot.

[Then, an assistant comes in and places a brace around Wahlberg’s neck.]

I hurt my neck in Hong Kong, and it hasn’t gotten better yet. I just woke up in the morning and couldn’t move, but still had to shoot 10 days of crazy action."

The Jan 2014 issue of Figure King contains the first official confirmation of Masterpiece Wheeljack in the form of a silhouette.  The page, which can be viewed below, alsl shows the upcoming Transformers Go Optimus Prime quad -changer as well as a Movie Optimus Prime figure

Twitter accounts of Alfes2010 and Takara Tomy Designer Shogo Hasui have been updated with images of Transformers Masterpiece 19 Smokescreen.  ACToys also has more images of the upcoming figure.  Here is a little tease

Thanks to Robot Kingdom for posting in packaging pictures of the Transformers Generations Wave 2 figuresset for a 2014 release.

The figures consist of Armada Starscream, Fall of Cybertron Skywarp, Scoop and the Minicon Assault Team

Thanks to Preview.com we now know that one of the comics set for release on Free Comic Book Day (Saturday May 3rd 2014) in the USA will be Transformers Vs GI Joe

Thanks to Seibertron.com member mattj972 for pointing out that Amazon US currently have a sale on for the Platinum Edition Predaking for just $49.99.  If you are within the US, shipping is free as well, but international orders are also available.  So if you have been holding off on getting this figure, now could be the perfect time to treat yourself or to buy that Christmas gift.

Takara Tomy has updated their official Transformers Kre-O website with episode 9 of their Kre-O web comic series which we have mirrored for you below. Once again there are plenty of cameos including Toxitron, Blackarchnia, Trypticon and Tarn from the DJD.

The Transformers Collector's Club has updated their website with the cover of issue 54 of the Collectots Club magazine with what wil contain a "very revealing interview with Duane Capizzi from the Transformers: Prime series (including an exclusive coupon code for the Predacons Rising DVD), a two page spread featuring the G1 Predacons, two all-new MTMTE profiles and the final installment of BEAST WARS: Shattered Glass featuring a most epic conclusion, and a cameo appearance, that you won't want to miss!"

The cover of the magazine features Generations Rattrap who was designed by Emiliano Santalucia who confirmed the figure during Roll Out Roll Call 2013 here within the UK.

M1905 have published interviews with the cast and crew of Transformers: Age Of Extinction including director Michael Bay, producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, actors Mark Wahlberg, Jack Reynor, Li Bingbing and various other Asian artists.  The interview gives away some of the character plot points for Cade (Wahlberg) and Optimus Prime.  Stop here if you do not want to be spoiled.

• A Cybertronian robot only speaks Mandarin for the movie.
• Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) is protective of Tessa Yeager (Nicola Peltz) because of the death of his Wife and ha sa "no dating" policy for her.
• Shane (Jack Reynor), an Irish Race Car Driver and Tessa’s Boyfriend, saves Cade and Tessa earlier on in the movie to gain their trust.
• Cade Yeager and Optimus Prime bond over as both live by their own code of ethics.
• Cade is forced to make a choice between his own life and the life of his daughter's where as Optimus Prime needs to choose between "doing the right thing" / "what must be done" and the safety of his own life.
• Li Binbing's character owns of a very special "factory" in China.  (This is quite obvious as to what that refers to)
• The entire third act of the movie takes place in Hong Kong.
• A conference is attacked and the Officials call for help from a special group of individuals.

Thanks to a Google upload we all have clearer look at the bladed weapon from Transformers: Age of Extinction. The weapon, which could well turn out to be called the Star Saber, has been seen being carried by Mark Wahlberg and Jack Reynor and ties into the medieval theme which we have personally been told was to influence the design process. Check it out below.

Planet Iacon have posted an image, which can be viewed below, of a new Optimus Prime figure from Transformers 4.  The figure is clearly different to the version which has previously been leaked suggesting that this version could be a higher class of figure, perhaps voyager or leader class.

Alfes 2010 has posted an article over on his blog featuring the recently released TakaraTomy Transformers Generations TG-26 Bumblebee Goldbug and TG-27 Trailbreaker & Hoist. The images, he has posted, include comparison shots to their Hasbro counterparts (though he compares Goldbug to Bumblebee and not Goldfire). All of the toys feature alternate decos to their western release with the usual metallic paint applications but also it should be noted that Goldbug coes with a blue Generations Bumblebee head and not the Goldfire one. A Trailbreaker also features a red visor making the toy a close homage to the original G1 figure whilst Hoist features a darker shade of green.  You can view all of the images by clicking the link above.