The better part of the last year has been tough for Halo action figure collectors (that don’t collect Halo Mega Bloks), as McFarlane Toys only released a handful of figures in their Halo 4 action figure line before the line went on hiatus until the McFarlane Halo 4 Series 2 figures hit stores in September. But if there’s a silver lining to the situation, it’s that it leaves collectors extra money to buy some of the extravagant offerings this year from other Halo 4 toy manufacturers like Square-Enix, whose Halo 4 Play Arts Kai Master Chief and Spartan Warrior figures have just been received by stores and are available for sale as of today!

I first reported on the Halo 4 Play Arts Kai Spartan Warrior and Master Chief action figures last summer, and after what seems like an eternity they’re finally shipping out to stores and happy Halo collectors all over the world! As nice as the McFarlane Toys Halo figures are, the Square-Enix Play Arts Kai Halo figures are able to pack in an incredible amount of detailing and paint deco due to their huge 9″ size (and likewise huge price-tag).

These are the first two Halo 4 figures in the Play Arts Kai line, but another pair will be released in just a few months. Along with the now-released Master Chief and Spartan Warrior figures, Square-Enix will be shipping out a red Halo 4 Spartan Soldier and the first-ever Sarah Palmer figure in May 2013.

Square-Enix did not show any new Halo 4 action figures in their display at the 2013 Toy Fair in New York this week, so the four figures we’ve previously seen painted from them are likely their only Halo 4 offerings for 2013.

I pre-ordered the blue Square-Enix Halo 4 Play Arts Kai Spartan Warrior from Entertainment Earth and it’s already en route to me (with my wallet ~$60 lighter), so I’ll post a full review and photo gallery of the Spartan Warrior figure once I receive him next week.