I... really feel you've got that the wrong way round. Modifications of existing items points to Bandai putting in less money to make money. Just look at any retool in a Transformers line; it's a pretty standard practise in toylines to do retools and repaints like this to make a much easier buck than putting much more money into design and molding. Hell, Bandai have done it for movie-exclusive toys since like Faiz.

I really highly doubt that a third belt was so integral to four shows in a row, where they're clearly establishing a marketing pattern as Rider continues to heighten just how many products they're selling. It's especially hard to see Gold Drive and Cronus for instance desperately needing new belts.

The much more likely situation is that Bandai sets out a general marketing pattern, and the story crew works with them to decide what those will be in the story. Bandai says "Q1 belt, Q2 belt, Q3 retool belt", story crew gives input on what those will be and makes story preparations for them. Same with any other toy.

Does anyone know how we can get a clear version of the scans?

Yes we can get them when they get uploaded, this is the best you're gonna get till the full Q2 scans go up

We'll get better scans for certain when they're properly revealed. Otherwise, it's gonna be another "You are supposed to not know about Trinity yet."

A clear scan of the RyuSoulCalibur was found, so hopefully we can find a clear Thouser scan

So for the past few days as I've been taking in all the news about Thouser, something in the back of my mind has been telling me I'm missing something really obvious about all this.

And today, I've finally figured it out:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EDpJ9duUwAA7P1z.jpg

Thouser's toys (and possibly his debut) arrive in December

Oh I adore the naming for the legend rider stuff. Also how it's a more unique mix than "the most recent ones". Hope we get Kuuga and Ichigou

Doesn't necessarily mean a lot. For the past couple years the Q2 belt has released around the last week of the year, even though the proper debut is usually later. The Sclash Driver and BeyonDriver were both out in December, and the most we saw of the Riders or their respective belts were a tiny tease at the end of episodes 16. I want to say the Buggle Driver is the last time a year-end belt actually coincided with a year-end debut. Thouser will likely be in the former category though.

Damnit, I thought I finally figured out something.
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In other news, u/flowerstage found that toei added a concept art of what Zero One would look like with a Shooting Wolf form on the official website.

https://www.kamen-rider-official.com...weekly_items/4

Zero-One Shooting Wolf is actually gorgeous.
Hoping it happens in the show somehow.
I hope next week we have a Rushing Cheetah one.

About Thouser. He will probably be teased at the end of the movie like Grease in its time, and appear in the show around the same time.