Similar to with the Masterpiece Optimus toy last year, I spoke to ToysRUs for confirmation.... and yes, it is coming... yes, it is from Hasbro... and yes, it is spectacular.

Arriving in stores in June/July, is Soundwave for AU$150 (definitely not the JP version at that price).
And it will be packed in a box that looks like a giant, blue (Soundwave) cassette player.
No word on it's contents though.
Since it is the same price as Masterpiece Optimus, it is likely to be US$100 in America.
(reason why we haven't heard anything about this from Hasbro yet? - they don't often show off retailer exclusives at Retailer Toy Fairs, unless it is something special... so we might see it at the US Toyfair, but since BotCon is in June, we might not see much of this before it gets released)


Now that's not all...
Bad news - no Sideswipe or Red Alert on the horizon. (doesn't necessarily mean they are not coming at all - just not before Soundwave)
Good news - a second Hasbro Masterpiece is being released with it.