What Is The Finals?
The Finals is a free-to-play team-based first-person shooter developed by Embark Studios (founded by former DICE veterans behind Battlefield) and published by Nexon. Launched in December 2023 after a successful open beta, The Finals distinguishes itself with a game-show aesthetic, fully destructible environments powered by Unreal Engine 5, and a three-player squad format built around three distinct class archetypes: Light, Medium, and Heavy.
As of 2026, The Finals has accumulated over 30 million registered players and hosts regular seasonal content drops with new weapons, gadgets, and game-show-style events. The game is exclusively available natively on PC (Steam and the standalone Embark launcher), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. There is no mobile version, so no Android emulator is required — this guide covers the native PC experience.
Is The Finals Free on PC?
Yes. The Finals is completely free to download and play on PC via Steam. There are no pay-to-win mechanics — all weapons, gadgets, and class specialisations are unlocked through gameplay. Cosmetics (outfits, weapon skins, emotes) are the only purchasable items and have zero gameplay effect.
The in-game currency is Multibucks (MB):
- Free Multibucks are earnable via the free battle pass track and seasonal challenges.
- Paid Multibucks are purchased with real money and used for cosmetics.
- The premium battle pass (available each season) unlocks additional cosmetic rewards.
System Requirements
Minimum Requirements
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-6600K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600 |
| RAM | 12 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1070 / AMD RX 5700 |
| VRAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 35 GB SSD (SSD strongly recommended) |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 |
| Network | Broadband Internet connection |
Recommended Requirements
| Component | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10/11 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 2080 Super / AMD RX 6800 XT |
| VRAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 35 GB SSD |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 |
Ultra (High FPS / Competitive) Requirements
| Component | Ultra |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i9-12900K / AMD Ryzen 9 5900X |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR5 |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti / AMD RX 7800 XT or better |
| VRAM | 12 GB+ |
SSD is critical: The Finals uses UE5 Nanite and streaming assets. Installing on a mechanical HDD causes severe stuttering, texture pop-in, and load times 3–5× longer than SSD.
How to Download The Finals on PC
Via Steam (Recommended)
- Open Steam (download at store.steampowered.com if not installed).
- Search for "The Finals" in the Steam store.
- Click "Play Game" (it's free — no purchase required).
- Steam will add the game to your library.
- Click "Install" and choose your install drive.
- Download size: approximately 35 GB.
- Once installed, click "Play" to launch.
Steam advantage: Updates automatically, overlay works, screenshot integration, friends list works seamlessly with PS5 and Xbox crossplay.
Via Embark Launcher
Embark Studios also offers a standalone launcher:
- Visit playthefinals.com and click Download.
- Install the Embark launcher.
- Log in with or create an Embark account.
- Install The Finals from the launcher.
Note: Your Embark account progress carries across Steam and the standalone launcher — pick one and stick with it for convenience.
Class System: Light, Medium, Heavy
The Finals uses three fixed class archetypes, each with a distinct equipment pool and playstyle:
Light
The assassin class. Fastest movement speed, lowest health (150 HP). Excels at flanking and eliminating isolated targets.
Gadgets include: Grappling Hook, Cloaking Device, Glitch Grenade, Smoke Grenade, Thermal Bore Signature weapons: XP-54 SMG, M11 Pistol, Recurve Bow, Swords, Throwing Knives Recommended for: Aggressive, high-skill players who can consistently land shots
Medium
The support class. Middle health (250 HP), versatile kit. Can revive downed teammates from a distance with the Defibrillator.
Gadgets include: Defibrillator (long-range revive), Healing Beam, Jump Pad, APS Turret, Zipline Signature weapons: FCAR Assault Rifle, AKM, Model 1887 Shotgun, Pike-556 Recommended for: Team-oriented players who want to be the backbone of the squad
Key mechanic: The Defibrillator allows Mediums to revive from safety — one Medium on a team dramatically improves survival rates in cash-out fights.
Heavy
The bruiser class. Highest health (350 HP), high damage, most destructive gadgets.
Gadgets include: Sledgehammer (breaches walls), C4, Barricade, Charge'N'Slam, Dome Shield, Winch Claw Signature weapons: Lewis Gun LMG, M60 LMG, SA1216 Shotgun, Sledgehammer melee Recommended for: Aggressive players who like creating and exploiting chaos
Beginner tip: Start with Medium. The Defibrillator ensures your team always has revive capability, and the FCAR is one of the most forgiving rifles in the game.
Best PC Settings for The Finals
Display Settings
| Setting | Recommended Value | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Window Mode | Fullscreen | Lowest input latency |
| Resolution | Native monitor resolution | Anti-cheat + clarity |
| Frame Rate Limit | Match monitor Hz (or uncapped if >144) | Smooth gameplay |
| DLSS / FSR / XeSS | DLSS Quality (RTX) / FSR Quality (AMD) / XeSS (Intel) | Upscaling for free frames |
| AMD FSR 3 Frame Gen | On (RX 7000 series) | Extra frames at mild latency cost |
Graphics Settings (1080p, GTX 1070 level)
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Global Quality Preset | Low → customize below |
| Texture Quality | Medium |
| Shadow Quality | Low (biggest FPS gain) |
| Ambient Occlusion | Off |
| Screen Space Reflections | Off |
| Motion Blur | Off (always — competitive standard) |
| Depth of Field | Off |
| Lens Flare | Off |
| Foliage Quality | Low |
| View Distance Quality | Medium |
| Destruction Quality | Medium (core mechanic, don't set to Low) |
| Anti-Aliasing | DLSS/FSR/XeSS (not TAA — TAA creates blur) |
Destruction Quality note: Setting Destruction Quality to Low reduces the visual detail of UE5 destruction physics but does NOT reduce the actual gameplay destruction. Set to Medium as a compromise between performance and visual feedback.
Graphics Settings (1440p, RTX 3080 level)
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Texture Quality | High |
| Shadow Quality | Medium |
| Ambient Occlusion | SSAO |
| Destruction Quality | High |
| Anti-Aliasing | DLSS Balanced/Quality |
Performance Tips
- Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS) in Windows 11 GPU settings — reduces GPU latency.
- Set CPU priority to High in Task Manager while playing (or use Process Lasso for automation).
- Close background apps: Discord overlay, OBS, browser tabs — UE5 is memory-hungry.
- If stuttering on a medium-spec PC, set Shader Precompilation to run fully before your first session (a one-time ~10 minute process at first launch).
Game Modes in The Finals
| Mode | Format | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Cash | 4 teams of 3 | Steal and bank cash from vaults; first team to bank target wins |
| Bank It | 4 teams of 3 | Kill enemies to collect coins; bank coins to score |
| Power Shift | 5v5 | Control a moving platform across the map |
| Terminal Attack | 5v5 | No respawns; plant/defuse terminal; competitive S-tier |
| Ranked | 5v5 Terminal Attack | Competitive ranked mode for Diamond/Ruby ambitions |
| Tournaments | 4 teams of 3 | Bracketed cash-out format; highest buy-in mode |
For beginners: Start with Quick Cash. It allows respawns, teaches the cash-out mechanic, and exposes you to all three class interactions in a forgiving format.
Terminal Attack is the highest-skill mode — no respawns per round means every decision is critical. Solo queue without comms is brutally punishing; play with friends.
The Finals Map: Key Features
The Finals maps (Seoul, Monaco, Las Vegas, Bernal, Kyoto, Skyway Stadium) feature fully destructible buildings. This is not cosmetic — entire floors can collapse, stairwells can be blown out, rooftop positions can be demolished by a Heavy with C4.
Destruction tactics:
- Heavy + C4 combo: Plant C4 on a floor and detonate to drop everyone above into a pit. Extremely effective for cash-out denial.
- Sledgehammer breach: A Heavy can punch through drywall to create new flanking routes that don't exist on the map.
- Zipline/Grapple off destroyed buildings: When a roof collapses, new verticality emerges. Light classes should constantly reread the map.
Practical tip for new players: Don't stand on floors that Heavies are pushing. If you hear a Heavy with a sledgehammer, the floor is not safe. Repositioned play beats static holds.
Ranked Mode Explained
The Finals Ranked uses a visible rank + hidden MMR system:
| Rank | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bronze | Entry point |
| Silver | |
| Gold | |
| Platinum | |
| Diamond | Top ~5–10% |
| Ruby | Top <1%, prestige cosmetics |
Ranked currently uses Terminal Attack (5v5, no respawn). Placement is affected by both wins and individual performance contribution. Solo queue is viable but a coordinated three-stack has a significant structural advantage.
Troubleshooting: Common PC Issues
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Crash on startup | Verify game files via Steam (Properties → Local Files → Verify); update GPU drivers |
| Low FPS despite good GPU | UE5 shader compilation stutters on first play; let the shader precompile finish |
| Stuttering (not low avg FPS) | Install game on SSD; disable Xbox Game Bar (Win+G background process); close Discord overlay |
| Can't connect to servers | Check Twitter/X @TheFinalsGame for outage; if isolated, flush DNS: ipconfig /flushdns in admin CMD |
| Controller not detected | Verify Steam Input is enabled; for DS4/DualSense use DS4Windows or Steam's native Sony controller support |
| Anti-cheat (EAC) error | Easy Anti-Cheat is embedded — if EAC fails, repair via Steam → Verify; or reinstall EAC from [GameDir]\EasyAntiCheat |
| Black screen on launch | Force fullscreen off: add -windowed launch option in Steam Properties |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Finals cross-platform multiplayer? Yes. PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S all play in the same pool. Cross-progression (cosmetics, battle pass progress) is shared across platforms via your linked Embark account.
Does The Finals have anti-cheat? Yes. The Finals uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), the same kernel-level anti-cheat used by Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rust. EAC runs at the kernel level, which some users object to. There is no option to disable it.
Can I play The Finals with a controller on PC? Yes. Controller support is native. The game auto-detects Xbox and PlayStation controllers. Gyro aiming is supported for DualSense via Steam Input.
Does The Finals support ultrawide monitors? Yes. 21:9 and 32:9 are supported. The FOV slider accommodates ultrawide displays.
How large is The Finals download? Approximately 35 GB. Expect incremental updates of 2–5 GB per season.
Is The Finals pay-to-win? No. All gameplay-affecting content (weapons, gadgets, specialisations) is unlocked through in-game progression. Paid items are cosmetics only.
Is there a battle pass? Is it worth it? Yes. Each season has a free and paid battle pass track (~1,000 Multibucks, approximately €10). The paid track returns roughly 800 MB in earnable currency if you complete it, meaning the net cost is ~200 MB per season for active players. The pass content is purely cosmetic.
Quick-Start Checklist
- [ ] Download via Steam (free) or Embark launcher
- [ ] Let shaders precompile fully before first game
- [ ] Turn Motion Blur OFF immediately
- [ ] Pick Medium class, equip Defibrillator + FCAR
- [ ] Play Quick Cash for first 10 games
- [ ] Learn one map's destruction patterns before ranked
- [ ] Link Embark account to unify cross-platform progress
Guide accurate for The Finals Season 5 (2026). Check playthefinals.com for latest patch notes.