A $330 Piece of Gum? Armored Core VI's Infamous Boss "Balteus" Gets a Massive "Candy Toy" Figure

Balteus, one of the most notoriously difficult and iconic boss enemies from the hit action game Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, is getting a massive physical figure from Bandai's "shokugan" (candy toy) brand. The announcement has taken social media by storm.

Boasting an overwhelming scale, the figure measures approximately 450 mm in length, 220 mm in height, and 320 mm in width—dwarfing a standard 30-centimeter ruler. It meticulously recreates the boss's signature weaponry, including the quadruple shotgun and triple Gatling gun. Interchangeable parts also allow fans to display it with its flamethrowers or its iconic, screen-filling 156-cell missile launcher deployed. Pre-orders opened today, with shipping scheduled for 2027.

However, what truly shocked fans was the product's classification and price tag. Because it is being released under Bandai's "shokugan" line (which refers to cheap toys packaged with a small piece of candy), the massive figure technically comes with a single piece of soda-flavored chewing gum. The price? A whopping 50,000 yen (approximately $330 USD). This bold pricing sparked a wave of hilarious reactions online, with fans joking, "It's a 50,000-yen piece of gum that comes with a free Balteus," and "This is basically a free figure packaged with ultra-premium gum." Others voiced a mix of excitement and anxiety over its sheer size, commenting, "I want it, but I have nowhere to put it," and "I need to start saving up now for 2027."

Adding to the excitement, the promotional video features newly recorded narration by voice actress Fairouz Ai, who plays the fan-favorite character Ayre in the game. Fans praised the touch, calling it "a wonderful presentation that shows true love for the source material" and "an incredibly class act."

Balteus is a boss that once struck despair into the hearts of many "Ravens" (players) on their first playthrough, yet remained deeply loved for its sheer cool factor. Despite its high price and massive footprint, many passionate fans have already placed their pre-orders, proving once again the enduring popularity of this mechanical beast.

The Context: Japan's "Shokugan" Culture and the Dreaded Balteus

To fully appreciate this announcement, it helps to understand two things: Japan's unique "shokugan" (candy toy) culture and the reputation of Balteus within the gaming community.

In Japan, "shokugan" are inexpensive toys sold in supermarket candy aisles, historically packaged with a small piece of chewing gum or candy to bypass certain distribution regulations. Over the years, Bandai has pushed the boundaries of this category, occasionally releasing incredibly detailed, high-end collector's items under the "shokugan" label while keeping the single piece of gum just to retain the classification. This results in the amusing contrast of a premium $300+ collectible being legally classified as a "confectionery."

Meanwhile, AAP07: BALTEUS is legendary among players of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (released in August 2023 by FromSoftware). Serving as the boss at the end of Chapter 1, Balteus acted as a brutal "gatekeeper" or "filter boss," forcing players to fully master the game's mechanics to proceed. Its signature attack—a spectacular but terrifying barrage of 156 missiles—became a meme within the gaming community, making Balteus both feared and highly respected as a milestone of achievement.