It’s hard to believe it’s already been half a year since I stepped away from Genshin. Yet the slow pace of Genshin merchandise releases continues. Four months after Nendoroid Kaeya, we now have the Yaksha General himself, Xiao! Scheduled for release in December 2026, Nendoroid Xiao is priced at 7,500 yen.
At this point, I’m honestly puzzled by HoYoverse’s continued confidence in what feels like a half-hearted approach to merchandise for one of their formerly dominant IPs. There was a time when Genshin’s popularity could justify almost anything, but goodwill from the early fanbase has clearly burnt out completely by this time. The pacing and perceived effort behind these releases don’t exactly inspire excitement.
For those unfamiliar, Xiao is an Anemo character from Liyue, a semi-divine Yaksha who serves under Zhongli to protect the region from malevolent forces. His aloof personality stems from survivor’s guilt as the last remaining Yaksha and from the karmic burden he carries after centuries of slaying evil. Gameplay-wise, Xiao was extremely popular upon his initial release due to his high burst damage potential. His Elemental Burst enhances his plunge attacks at the cost of HP, creating a high-risk, high-reward playstyle that many players enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the 7,500 yen price tag for his Nendoroid feels steep considering the included accessories. While he does come with his Yaksha mask and signature weapon, Primordial Jade Winged-Spear (PJWS), the overall package feels underwhelming for a figure priced above 7,000 yen. At this range, one would reasonably expect more expressive faceplates perhaps even a Yaksha-transformed faceplate to justify the premium.
Even though I’m no longer deeply invested in Genshin, it’s disappointing to see what feels like minimal effort in these releases. If the line continues, perhaps future Nendoroids will at least feature some of the more popular female characters that might reignite some enthusiasm.
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