Summer is always a time for new things to get announced; what better time to build hype? Xshot sent care packages out to several social media personalities, and Dart Zone posted sneak peeks from their booth at a Specialty Toy Fair in Wisconsin. Let’s run down the list and see what’s coming!
Dart Zone Recolors and Rereleases On Display
Dart Zone had several blasters on display at their recent booth; they include blue recolors of the Max Stryker 2.0, the Omnia Pro, and the Dart Zone Pro Mk2. There are also purple Outlaws and Venom Pros, and a new version of the Dart Zone Pro Mk4 that skips the chonky barrel extension in favor of a swappable barrel.
Admittedly, I knew about the Mk4 idea a year ago. Dart Zone was going through ideas at the time and thought about this exact setup, aiming for $99. Given the Mk4’s structural capabilities for high fps, it can demand a higher price. What that price works out to a year later, however, I don’t know.
We have yet to hear how many of these recolors and releases will hit shelves, as opposed to being available from Dart Zone’s website. And it also doesn’t reflect the items that will be coming to shelves at Walmart (under the Adventure Force line) or Target in the fall. In any case, as much as some fans may be disappointed about simple recolors/refreshes, the fact that it’s happening would indicate that it makes money.
Xshot’s New Releases
Xshot, meanwhile, has been busy! Some of these blasters are already appearing early on Walmart shelves, and they are likely to be nationwide by the end of the week. There’s the Longshot 2.0 (a 200fps upgrade to the original), the Thrasher (a full-auto electronic blaster), and the Barrel Break (a revolver). A few influencer videos are already online; I’ll have to wait until I find and buy these on shelves to see if they hold up in actual games.