The ride, based on the Transformers film franchise, was designed by Universal Creative, Oceaneering International, and Industrial Light & Magic.

Throughout the ride, screens up to 60 feet (18 m) high project 3D images of various Transformers characters as the Autobots attempt to protect the AllSpark from the Decepticons.

[12] The announcement was made just prior to that night's showing of Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories.

[3] The ride debuted at an exclusive evening event on 2 December 2011, attended by director Michael Bay and Universal Parks & Resorts CEO Tom Williams.

After a period of construction spanning close to two years, the ride and its gift store, the Transformers Supply Vault, soft opened to the public in late April 2012.

[13] Construction began almost immediately on the site of Soundstage 44, which was once home of Hercules and Xena: Wizards of the Screen and Murder, She Wrote Mystery Theatre.

In July 2012, construction of a new building began with the installation of a tower crane and the start of excavation.

The video screens play briefings from General Morshower, Ironhide, Wheelie and Ratchet, who explain that the Decepticons have come to Earth in search of the AllSpark and are attacking the NEST base in order to recover the fragment stored there.

[27] The ride begins with Evac (voiced by Dustin James Leighton) moving out of the loading station and making a turn.

The vehicle approaches the first of thirteen 3D high-definition video screens which depicts Ravage grabbing a canister containing the AllSpark.

Starscream then throws him across several city blocks before landing on a construction site and smashing into some drums which release clouds of fog resulting in Evac asking if the riders are okay.

Optimus Prime and Megatron continue their battle in the construction site as Evac reverses away in an attempt to protect the AllSpark.

Bumblebee then saves Evac from destruction while playing James Brown's "I Feel Good" at the verse 'I got you.'

Universal Creative's Thierry Coup was the Creative Director of the ride, having worked on previous Universal attractions including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, and Shrek 4-D.[37] Michael Bay, director of the Transformers film franchise, collaborated with Universal Creative on the ride, despite an earlier blog post that suggested otherwise: "I don't support it yet – I'm not involved and [I'm] not sure the story of the ride works, and I know Optimus is not going to just show up to be directed by some new people that have never worked with him," he wrote.

[38] Bay's involvement in the attraction's development was revealed by Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, in an NBC documentary on Islands of Adventure's Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

[47] Similar to Universal Studios Hollywood's marketing campaign, Universal Studios Florida utilised the same Prepare For Battle website as well as attaching another silhouette of Megatron to the Fairwinds Credit Union Tower in Downtown Orlando.

Brady MacDonald of the Los Angeles Times said he had high expectations of the ride,[30] and was very pleased with it, and wrote that it "ranks among the top theme park attractions in the world".

[49] Florida Today's Tim Walters and Jennifer Sangalang stated the "action-packed 'Transformers' ride doesn't disappoint".

[41] The opening of the ride at Universal Studios Hollywood was an immediate success, with record attendance over the Memorial Day weekend.