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I recently picked up my very own Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII figure from Square Enix, and it got me thinking… We are so close to a true golden age of video game action figures. With McFarlane diving into Elite Edition figures from DOOM, Fallout, World of Warcraft, and God of War, it feels like companies are finally realizing something we’ve known all along: Gamers don’t just want statues.We want articulated, accessory-loaded, shelf-dominating figures. So here’s my list of 10 video game characters (and lines) that absolutely deserve updated releases—or their first true mainline figure. 1. Leon S. Kennedy (And a Full Resident Evil Line) If we’re kicking this off, we’re doing it right. Leon is the obvious choice. Especially Resident Evil 4 Remake Leon. Jacket. Attaché case. Shotgun. Pistol. Knife. Multiple heads. But this isn’t just about Leon. Resident Evil has endless line potential: Ada Wong Claire Redfield Chris Redfield Wesker Nemesis Mr. X Tyrants This could be a long-running collector line. Start with Leon to grab attention—and then build the horror universe around him. 2. Jin Sakai – Ghost of Tsushima This game was incredible.And I’m not afraid to say it made me emotional by the end. Jin deserves a premium figure with: Samurai armor configuration Ninja “Ghost” stealth build Bow Katana Smoke bombs Alternate armor sets Give us an Elite Edition-style release with soft goods and dynamic posing. This game is art. The figure should be too. 3. Baldur’s Gate 3 (Karlach, Gale, Astarion… Honestly All of Them) Let’s be real. Baldur’s Gate 3 might be one of the best games of the 2020s. The characters? Instantly iconic. Karlach. Gale. Astarion. Shadowheart. Lae’zel. Wyll. You could build an entire D&D-style figure wave from this cast alone, complete with: Spell effects Swappable hands Weapons Camp outfits Collectors would go absolutely feral for this line. 4. Radahn – Elden Ring Just imagine this on your shelf. Radahn. Massive. Oversized. Covered in armor. Flowing red hair. And yes. His poor tiny horse included as an accessory. Elden Ring deserves boss figures in general—but Radahn is the one that grabs attention immediately. This could be one of those giant centerpiece display figures. 5. Expedition 33 (Maelle or Gustave) My favorite game of 2025 deserves love. Expedition 33 has such a distinct aesthetic and emotional tone. A Maelle or Gustave figure would feel unique compared to typical fantasy characters. Stylized. Expressive. Story-driven. This isn’t just a figure—it’s a reminder of an experience. 6. Arthur Morgan – Red Dead Redemption 2 Step aside, Woody. Arthur Morgan deserves a fully decked-out, collector-grade cowboy figure. Multiple hats Long coat Rifle Revolver Lasso Bandolier Camp gear Red Dead 2 is one of the greatest games ever made. And somehow we still don’t have a definitive articulated Arthur to prove it. 7. Agent 47 – Hitman The accessory packs alone could be insane. Different suits. Disguises. Alternate heads. Briefcase. Silenced pistols. Improvised weapons. Agent 47 is BUILT for action figure customization.This line could be endlessly expandable. Give us the world’s most dangerous bald man immediately. 8. Big Daddy – BioShock Yes, there have been figures in the past. No, they weren’t enough. We need a chunky, heavily articulated, imposing Big Daddy with: Drill arm Weathered paint Battle damage Light-up helmet option BioShock’s atmosphere is unforgettable. A modern Big Daddy could absolutely dominate a shelf. 9. Corvo Attano – Dishonored One of the most underrated gaming protagonists. The mask alone makes this an instant buy. But add: Blink effect pieces Folding sword Crossbow Dark magic accessories And suddenly you’ve got one of the coolest stealth-assassin figures in years. Dishonored deserves better in the collectibles world. 10. StarCraft – A Full JoyToy-Style Universe This one isn’t just a figure. This is a toy line waiting to happen. JoyToy has absolutely crushed it with Warhammer 40K. So imagine this: Starter 3-Pack: Terran Marine Protoss Warrior Zerg Creature Then expand: Hydralisks Zealots Siege Tanks Ghost units Kerrigan StarCraft has the faction diversity and visual identity to become a full collectible universe. It’s almost shocking it hasn’t happened yet. Final Thoughts The video game figure space feels like it’s waking up again. Companies are realizing what collectors have known for years: These characters deserve more than statues.They deserve articulation. Accessories. Shelf presence. If even half of these become reality, we might be stepping into a true second golden age of gaming collectibles.

There’s something strange about walking the floor of New York Toy Fair. On one hand, it reminds you just how big this industry really is. Massive booths. Global brands. Decades of history behind names like Hasbro, Mattel, Bandai, and more. It’s easy to feel like you’re stepping into a world that’s already been built — one dominated by companies that have been doing this for generations. But at the same time… It makes everything feel closer. More human. More possible. A Smaller World Than You Think When you’re actually there — shaking hands, having conversations, talking through products and plans — the industry doesn’t feel so distant anymore. It starts to feel… reachable. The walls between “big company” and “small business” aren’t as solid as they seem from the outside. You realize that this entire space — from major brands to independent creators — is built on relationships, ideas, and people who care deeply about what they’re making. And suddenly, you’re not just watching it from the outside. You’re part of it. Making Our Place in It This year, more than ever, it felt like New Meta wasn’t just attending — we were starting to make a splash. Conversations are turning into opportunities. Opportunities are turning into partnerships. And in 2026, that’s going to take a big step forward. We’re actively working toward going direct with more companies, including: Bandai NECA Trick or Treat Studios Yolopark And more Going direct means better access, stronger relationships, and the ability to bring in products in a way that aligns with how we want to serve our customers. At the same time, we’re doubling down on something that’s always been core to New Meta: Supporting independent and emerging brands. You’ll see more indie lines, more unique products, and more opportunities to discover something you didn’t even know you were looking for. Growing Faster Than Expected If we’re being honest… The business is growing faster than we can comfortably handle. And that’s both exciting — and a challenge. 2026 is shaping up to be a year of big decisions, including: Expanding into a physical warehouse here in Kansas Bringing on new team members Investing more heavily into branding and content Expanding influencer and creator collaborations We’re moving from a growing online store… To something much bigger. Looking Beyond Retail At Toy Fair, one thing became clear: This industry isn’t just about selling products. It’s about building worlds, telling stories, and creating experiences that people connect with. And that’s where we’re heading. Under the New Meta umbrella, we’re starting to explore what comes next: New target markets beyond traditional collectibles Original storytelling and comics The possibility of developing our own toy line Emerging technology ideas built specifically for collectors These aren’t overnight moves. But they are on the horizon. A Shift in Perspective Toy Fair has a way of changing how you see things. It shows you just how big the industry is… But also how much room there still is to grow, build, and create something meaningful. It’s not just a handful of big companies at the top. It’s a network of people, brands, and businesses — all contributing in their own way. And for the first time, it really feels like: New Meta isn’t just part of the audience anymore. We’re part of the conversation. Big Things Ahead 2026 is going to be a defining year for us. More products.More partnerships.More growth.More ideas coming to life. We’re still early in the journey. But if Toy Fair confirmed anything… It’s that we’re heading in the right direction. And the best is still ahead.

Comics have always used large organizations to express fears that feel too big for one person to fight. Groups like HYDRA, AIM, and The Hand represent systems that seem hidden, distant, and unstoppable. They aren’t frightening only because of what they do, but because of what they symbolize: a world where decisions are made far away from the people who live with the consequences. At the same time, comics have never been neutral about power. Captain America was created to confront fascism. The X-Men were shaped by civil rights struggles and the fear of being hunted for who you are. Batman has spent decades fighting not just criminals, but corruption and institutions that fail the people they’re meant to protect. Superhero stories have always carried social meaning beneath the costumes. That history matters when we look at how people are now talking about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Not because ICE is a fictional organization, and not because real life is a comic book—but because the emotional experience of confronting a powerful institution can feel similar to the stories we’ve been telling for generations. Fear Has a Narrative Shape In comics, HYDRA feels frightening because it’s faceless. AIM hides behind uniforms and authority. The Hand operates in secrecy and ritual. These organizations feel less like groups of people and more like forces—things that arrive, act, and disappear without explanation. For many communities, ICE has begun to feel the same way: not as individuals, but as a presence. Something that wears masks. Something that appears suddenly. Something that takes people away. Something that leaves families waiting for answers. When people reach for comic-book language, they aren’t saying reality is fiction. They’re trying to describe a feeling:the fear of power that feels distant, emotionless, and impossible to speak to. The Sentinel Program and Lawful Fear Marvel offers another important example in the Sentinel Program. Unlike HYDRA or AIM, the Sentinels are legal. They are government-funded. They are justified as protection. And yet, they often become terrifying. Not because they operate outside the law, but because they reduce people to categories. They see threats instead of stories. Targets instead of families. This is where the comparison deepens. HYDRA and AIM represent fear of secret enemies. The Sentinels represent fear of something else:what happens when enforcement becomes automatic and morality becomes secondary to procedure. A system does not have to be illegal to feel dangerous.It only has to feel indifferent. Why the Accusations Appear When people feel harmed or unheard, they search for a narrative that can carry what they’re experiencing. Comic books provide that language. An institution that feels faceless, untouchable, or unresponsive can begin to resemble the kinds of forces comics have long warned us about—not as a literal villain from the page, but as a symbol of power that feels disconnected from empathy. This isn’t just about policy.It’s about emotion.It’s about distance.It’s about whether people feel seen by the systems that govern them. And comics, more than almost any medium, have talked about what happens when power loses sight of the people beneath it. Not a Villain Story — a Power Story The most unsettling truth in superhero fiction is that many villainous organizations don’t believe they are evil. They believe they are necessary. HYDRA claims order.AIM claims knowledge.The Sentinels claim safety. What makes them frightening is not intent, but what gets lost along the way. That’s the tension people are wrestling with when they draw these parallels. Not whether institutions should exist—but whether they still reflect the moral purpose they were built for. Final Thought Comics have always warned that power without morality becomes something to fear - not because it defies rules, but because it forgets the people it touches. And when those stories begin to feel uncomfortably close to real life, they whisper a harder question back to us: whether order can still call itself just when compassion has begun to fade.