Hasbro is expanding its Nerf Pro line, but is taking a tech that is based on airsoft --- gel blasters. The only difference between gel blasters and airsoft guns is mainly ammo as gel blasters fire water gel beads (or gel balls) and airsoft guns fire plastic BBs. To a lesser extent, while gel blasters also use springers, AEG gearboxes and blowback/non-blowback gas tech, they are lower in power. Furthermore, they are politically palatable in countries with strict gun laws, especially in Australia and Malaysia where gel blasters are used as alternatives to airsoft guns.

To be released in November, the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic is a gel blaster with the gels fed into the blaster using a 800-round hopper similar to those seen in paintball guns and cheaper shrink-wrapped gel blasters found at toy stores. For those unfamiliar with gel blasters, the ammo which is superabsorbent polymer water beads is first soaked in water for a few hours and will expand to 6mm or 8mm, just like airsoft BBs. These explode like tiny water balloons upon impact. Gel ballers follow the same rule as airsofters as gel ball games are also honor-based.

According to Hasbro, the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic has an ROF of 10 rounds per second though muzzle velocity/energy has not been specified. But given that gel blasters are mainly low powered, the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic can be more useful in close quarters.  

Hasbro did not go to the more realistic looking firearm replica design with the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic as most gel blasters follow airsoft trends, and stuck with the tradition colorful Nerf blaster designs, it will be easily mistaken for a Nerf blaster at first glance. It has a retractable stock, 7.4v 500Mah rechargeable battery which can be charged via USB-A to USB-C cable, removable barrel and eye protection. Also included in the package is 2 packets of 5,000 round ammo. It has semi and full auto fire modes.

What makes the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic an attractive proposition for Nerf users is that the ammo is more widely accessible given that there more water gel blaster makers in the market so the ammo can be purchased from different manufacturers. The question is if Nerf Pro gel blasters will eat into the sales of other Nerf projectiles such as the foam darts and balls one Hasbro expands the gel blaster line.

Now available on pre-order the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic is priced at US$79.99 in the U.S. and it will be released on the 1st of November 2022.