GoBots was a line of transforming
robot toys produced by
Tonka from 1983 to 1987, similar to
Transformers. Although initially a separate and competing franchise, Tonka's Gobots became the
intellectual property of
Hasbro after their buyout of Tonka in 1991. Subsequently, the universe depicted in the animated series
Challenge of the GoBots and follow-up film was established as an
alternate universe within the
Transformers franchise. While Hasbro now owns the fictional side of the property (character names, bios, storyline), the actual toys and their likenesses were only licensed from Bandai in the 80s, were not covered by the Tonka acquisition, and are not available for Hasbro use.