Convention - SDCC 2025 : Ghostbusters Nostalgia and Innovation Unite at the Hasbro Booth

By Mulder, San Diego, Convention Center, 24 july 2025

Stepping onto the floor of the San Diego Convention Center on July 23, 2025, it was impossible not to feel that electric charge that only San Diego Comic-Con can deliver. Yet among the dazzling displays, towering banners, and the hum of thousands of fans sharing their passion, one corner of the Hasbro booth pulled me in with a gravitational force: the Ghostbusters section. For someone whose childhood was shaped as much by the original films as by countless Saturday mornings glued to The Real Ghostbusters cartoon, this was more than a toy display—it was an emotional time machine. The line between past and present blurred here, where nostalgia and modern craftsmanship came together in a way that felt both deeply personal and impressively ambitious. Speaking with Patrick Dennis, the graphics, packaging, and product designer spearheading the Ghostbusters team at Hasbro, confirmed that this was more than just a product showcase—it was a celebration of legacy. His enthusiasm matched the gleam in the eyes of the fans stopping by, each eager to relive the magic of proton packs, glowing ghosts, and those unforgettable moments from 1984 and beyond.

At the heart of the display was this year’s show exclusive: the Ecto-Glow Ghostbusters four-pack. Lovingly recreated from Kenner’s original designs, this $79.99 set radiated the meticulous care poured into its development. Every detail, from the glow-in-the-dark pigments to the retro packaging, was executed to perfection. The box itself was graced with brand-new artwork by Harry Moore, an artist whose style perfectly channels that 80s Ghostbusters charm and who, according to Dennis, has become his go-to collaborator whenever a project needs to nail that retro authenticity. The set felt like the kind of treasure you’d have begged your parents for in 1989 and proudly displayed on your bedroom shelf—only now, it’s as much a collector’s piece as a trip down memory lane.

The exclusives didn’t stop there. Unveiled alongside the figures was the Ecto-Glow Ecto-1, a $49.99 vehicle that went live for pre-order on the very morning of the convention’s opening day. This wasn’t just any Ecto-1—it was color-matched to the figures in the line so that every neon accent, every glowing highlight tied perfectly into the theme. In a nod to the original Kenner model, Dennis confirmed the vehicle still features the front bench seat, the iconic roof-mounted gunner seat, and enough space to fit the team—if you’re willing to get creative. Alongside it, the “capsule collection” concept came to life with a two-pack of glowing ghosts: the Green Ghost (Slimer) and Stay Puft, both reimagined in that signature ecto-glow finish. This idea, as Dennis explained, was born from a simple “what if?”—what if Kenner had kept going after its final Ghostbusters wave in 1991? The result is an alternate history in plastic form, a love letter to a line that could have been, crafted with the hindsight and skill of today’s toy-making capabilities.

Beyond the retro celebration, Hasbro flexed its modern engineering muscle with the Ghostbusters Plasma Series Ectomobile HasLab offering. Last fall’s campaign had given fans two enticing options: a base model that included the Ecto-1 with a roof rack, Slimer, the Library Ghost, and a bonus Little Louis Tully with a full arsenal of accessories, and a deluxe upgrade for an additional $75 that added not only more figures—complete with their proton streams and slime packs—but also more lighting effects than Hasbro had ever integrated into a single product. From the miniature Tobin spirit guide to the stack of books for the Library Ghost, every accessory felt like an Easter egg for fans who know the films frame-by-frame. Standing nearby was the Rooftop Showdown 4-pack, a bold re-sculpting of the 1984 cast in their climactic battle with Gozer. Dennis emphasized how advancements in sculpting and licensing over the past six years have allowed for astonishing accuracy in facial expressions, even recreating the actors’ on-screen scowls with one-to-one precision. These were not just figures—they were miniature moments from cinematic history, frozen in time.

Perhaps the most impressive element of the booth was the premium role-play gear, which bridged the gap between display collectibles and functional fan experiences. From the “two-in-the-box” Ghost Trap and PKE Meter set—originally launched through a HasLab campaign and drawing on designs from both Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire—to the fan-favorite 1984 Neutrona Wand, every piece was a testament to Hasbro’s commitment to screen accuracy. The star of this section, however, was the brand-new 1984 Proton Pack. Roughly 85% newly tooled and enhanced with a USB-C always-on display mode, it addressed direct fan feedback, allowing it to double as a room accent, nightlight, or wall-mounted display. Priced at $279.99 and available for pre-order now, it is expected to ship in mid-2026. In collaboration with Sony and Ghost Corps, Hasbro went so far as to borrow a real trap prop from the films, merging elements from the multiple versions used on set into a single, definitive piece. The result was an object that balanced authenticity with durability, making it suitable for both cosplay and display—a rare feat in the collectibles world.

What set the Hasbro Ghostbusters booth apart at SDCC 2025 wasn’t just the quality of the products or the sheer range of offerings—it was the palpable sense of passion that radiated from the people behind them. In every figure sculpt, every accessory, and every glow-in-the-dark detail, you could see the care taken to honor the legacy of the franchise while giving fans something new to be excited about. This wasn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake; it was a thoughtful blending of past and present, an acknowledgement of the role these toys—and the world they represent—have played in shaping pop culture. Whether you were there to grab the exclusives, marvel at the HasLab engineering, or simply bask in the neon glow of Ecto-1’s latest incarnation, this booth was a reminder that Ghostbusters remains as culturally alive in 2025 as it was in 1984. For those lucky enough to stand in that corner of the Hasbro booth, the experience wasn’t just about seeing toys—it was about reconnecting with the joy that made us fans in the first place.

You can discover our photos in our Flickr page here and here

Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville