Hasbro, one of the largest toy companies in the world, is facing criticism after it was rumored that they chose not to create any toys based on the newly released Ahsoka series on Disney+ due to a lack of demand. This comes as a disappointment to fans who were eagerly anticipating the merchandise for the highly-anticipated series.
The rumor was first reported by YouTuber WDW Pro, who stated that Hasbro was given the opportunity to create toys for Ahsoka but chose not to due to poor demand. However, WDW Pro emphasized that this was still in the realm of rumor and speculation and could not be fully corroborated.
According to the source, Hasbro was offered a wait-and-see approach for Ahsoka merchandise, but they ultimately decided not to pursue it due to the lack of interest from young audiences. It appears that the only Ahsoka collectible currently available is the Star Wars Galactic Action Ahsoka Tano, which retails for $29.99. Other characters from the series, such as Thrawn, Sabine Wren, and Hera Syndulla, have no results when searched on Shop Hasbro’s website.
This news comes on the heels of a previous rumor from WDW Pro that claimed Star Wars toy sales were down 65%. This was reportedly due to a significant decrease in Disney’s retail space within non-closeout retailers in the U.S. It seems that the appeal for Disney-owned properties, including Marvel and Star Wars, has significantly decreased over the years.
This decline in merchandise sales is not surprising, given the current state of the Star Wars franchise under The Walt Disney Company. In 2020, Diamond Select Toys President Chuck Terceira stated that sales for products based on the sequel trilogy films were not strong. He also added that the overall demand for Star Wars merchandise was not what it used to be, and therefore, they were not able to justify creating products for the new movies.
In the same year, The Walt Disney Company acknowledged the decline in Star Wars merchandise sales in their Q3 report, stating that the decrease was due to lower revenue from Star Wars merchandise. This trend has been ongoing since 2016, and it seems that Ahsoka will continue the downward trend.
Fans are disappointed that despite the popularity of Ahsoka Tano and the excitement surrounding the new series, Hasbro has not capitalized on this opportunity to create new merchandise. This is especially disheartening given the huge success of The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars, which have generated high demand for collectibles.
It remains to be seen if Hasbro will change their strategy in the future and produce toys for Ahsoka, but for now, it seems that fans will have to rely on the limited products available.
