Most appveyor docs use $(), but a few use %%. Trying that.

.appveyor.yml

@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ before_build:
 
 # scripts to run after build
 after_build:
-  - 7z a xenia-$(appveyor_repo_branch)-$(appveyor_repo_commit)-$(configuration).zip build\bin\Windows\$(configuration)\xenia.exe
+  - 7z a xenia-%appveyor_repo_branch%-%appveyor_repo_commit%-%configuration%.zip build\bin\Windows\%configuration%\xenia.exe
 
 # to run your custom scripts instead of automatic MSBuild
 #build_script:
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ artifacts:
   #- path: out\*.nupkg
 
   - path: xenia-cpu-ppc-test.log
-  - path: xenia-$(appveyor_repo_branch)-$(appveyor_repo_commit)-$(configuration).zip
+  - path: xenia-%appveyor_repo_branch%-%appveyor_repo_commit%-%configuration%.zip
 
 
 #---------------------------------#
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ artifacts:
 deploy:
   - provider: Environment
     name: xenia-master
-    artifact: xenia-$(appveyor_repo_branch)-$(appveyor_repo_commit)-$(configuration).zip
+    artifact: xenia-%appveyor_repo_branch%-%appveyor_repo_commit%-%configuration%.zip
     draft: false
     prerelease: true
     on: