It’s not exactly a secret that McFarlane Toys has been planning to start bundling exclusive Halo 4 DLC (downloadable content) unlockables with their upcoming Assassin’s Creed and Halo 4 action figure lines, but the specifics of that Halo 4 downloadable content have been shrouded in secrecy–until now! Today, McFarlane Toys revealed exactly what Halo 4 armor skins and weapon skins will be unlocked with this fall’s McFarlane Halo 4 Series 2–and in the process, they also revealed an all-new Halo 4 figure…

Let’s face it: sales of the 2012 Halo 4 McFarlane Toys figures were not exactly a blockbuster success. The fact that I can walk into my local Target right now and pick up a half-dozen Watchers and Crawler figures for $2 each on super-clearance speaks to that. Clearly something needed to change in the Halo action figure world.

In an effort to keep their Halo 4 figure line going strong, McFarlane Toys is now going to be giving away free downloadable content codes for Halo 4 with the entire series of Halo 4 Series 2 action figures, including the Deluxe Halo 4 Didact figure. There’s no additional price increase to the regular figure cost, so these exclusive Halo 4 DLC codes that McFarlane Toys is adding can only be considered a very good thing.

All seven figures that comprise McFarlane Toys Halo 4 Series 2 will include an exclusive code for Halo 4 DLC that is only available with that figure (the exception being the Deluxe Didact action figure, which will actually come with two codes). That means that if you want the Ruin Skin for your Spartan C.I.O. armor, you must buy the Purple C.I.O. Spartan action figure to get it.

In total, McFarlane Toys will have eight Halo 4 unlockable content codes–three armor skin DLC codes and five weapons skins DLC codes. The armor skins will have colors that are fully customizable in the Halo 4 video game, but it appears that the weapon skin colors will be locked in.

The five Halo 4 Weapon Skin codes are:
Chill Skin for Covenant Storm Rifle (with Halo 4 Series 2 Elite Ranger Figure)
Engage Skin for Covenant Carbine (with Halo 4 Series 2 Storm Jackal Figure)
Bones Skin for UNSC DMR (with Halo 4 Series 2 Green/Steel Spartan C.I.O. Figure)
Riptide Skin for UNSC Assault Rifle (with Halo 4 Series 2 Master Chief Figure)
Refractive Skin for Forerunner Supressor (with Halo 4 Series 2 Deluxe The Didact Figure)

The three Halo 4 Armor Skin Codes are:
Toxic Skin for Scout Armor (with Halo 4 Series 2 Orange Spartan Scout Figure)
Ruin Skin for C.I.O. Armor (with Halo 4 Series 2 Purple Spartan CIO Figure)
Refractive Skin for Venator Armor (with Halo 4 Series 2 Deluxe The Didact Figure)

I am a little concerned that the latest intel says the the Halo 4 Series 2 action figures by McFarlane Toys will be pushed back until October 2013 now. Previously I had heard August 2013, so yet another delay would be pretty disheartening (to say the least). Let’s hope McFarlane Toys surprises us by getting there Halo 4 figures out on time (for a change).
Personally, I think this is a fantastic idea by McFarlane Toys and I’m thrilled to see them attempting to use these free Halo 4 unlockables as incentives to sell more action figures. There are a lot of Halo fans out there who don’t mind spending real money just to buy Halo 4 video game downloadable content, so theoretically many of those same fans can plunk down some money for Halo 4 McFarlane Toys Series 2 action figures to help sustain the toy line.

The McFarlane Halo 4 Series 2 action figure line and all of its DLC downloadable content codes are scheduled to be released in Fall 2013, and all of the figures (including the Didact) are now available for pre-order online if you want to get them early. I’ll be purchasing every single figure and reviewing them here, as always, so check back for full reviews and photo galleries once the line hits.

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What do you think, Halo collectors? Are you excited for this free Halo 4 exclusive unlockable DLC?