While pretty much every Halo licensee out there managed to get at least one major new collectible out last fall to coincide with the release of the Halo 5: Guardians video game, Square-Enix lagged behind and just plain missed the boat. But this spring, SE’s products will finally hit: the Halo 5 Play Arts Kai Master Chief and Spartan Locke are now up for order! But while they’re plenty nice looking, they’re also a price not many will want to pay…

Ever since they started producing Halo action figures around the time of Halo: Reach, I’ve long considered Square-Enix to be the company that produces the best Halo figures. Absolutely not the cheapest figures, mind you–a Play Arts Halo figure would cost you anywhere from $40-$60 back in the day–but certainly the most-articulated and detailed Halo figurines in the land.

As such, I’ve been really looking forward to the eventual release of the Play Arts Kai Halo 5 Guardians figures, which Square-Enix began showing off at various conventions and events in mid-2015. And now, the final prototypes have been shown and the figures are up for order! Predictably, both figures solicited do look amazing. But unpredictably, the price-tag on these figures has gone way, way up.

Whereas many collectors were scandalized when the price for the Halo 2 Anniversary Master Chief Play Arts Kai figure was raised to $99.99, Square has upped the price again for Spartan Locke and the Master Chief–by 50% (and $50!) more!

Yes, the new price per figure for these two Halo 5 Play Arts Kai action figures is really $150 per figure. No, really. Really. Ponder that for a moment.

Now that I’ve dropped that little bomb, let’s talk about the figures themselves: they look outstanding.

The Master Chief stands 10.6″ tall, and is easily the best-detailed toy of the Halo 5 Chief that I’ve seen released. If NECA or 3A Toys ever decide to do this iteration of John-117, they could challenge for the title, but I don’t see that in the cards. The Chief comes with a pistol and an assault rifle.

Likewise, the Spartan Locke Play Arts Kai figure is an absolute masterpiece. From the sculpting to the paint detail, this Agent Locke is an absolute knockout. Locke stands 10.4″ tall (slightly shorter than the Chief, though he really should be shorter still) and comes with a pistol and a battle rifle.

Ordinarily we get more than two figures for a major Halo video game release (Reach got six figures and two exclusives and Halo 4 got four figures), but for the moment it appears that Spartan Locke and the Master Chief are all SE has planned for the latest installment. Let’s hope that there’s more in development than we know, though–I’d love Play Arts Kai figures of the Arbiter, Kelly, Fred, Buck and the rest of Team Blue and Fireteam Osiris.

The Play Arts Kai Halo 5 Guardians figures are now up for order, and are expected to be released in April/May 2016. As awesome as these figures look, they’re well out of my price range right now, so I’m not sure if I’ll be reviewing them or not later this year.

How do you feel about these Square-Enix Halo 5 PAK figures, Halo collectors? Are you still interested in this line at this increased price-point, or has Square-Enix priced you out of the market?