THE FINALS, an all-new free-to-play first-person shooter penned as a ‘hero builder’ has been officially revealed by its developer, Embark Studios. It has been four years since the studio was founded, being created from the ground up by Patrick Soderlund, once part of the leadership team at DICE, the masterminds behind Battlefield. This is a world away from the hyper-realistic Battlefield franchise, as THE FINALS boasts bright colours, high-octane action, and verticality.

On the 9th of August, Embark Studios took to social media to provide an update on its projects. It referenced ‘Project Discovery’, which has now been revealed to be THE FINALS, stating that the project had ‘progressed faster than we first imagined‘. Following the reveal of the pre-alpha teaser trailer, the internet is abuzz with high expectations for what looks like a remarkably entertaining game.

So, what exactly is THE FINALS?

On the 27th of September, a 1-minute long trailer was revealed by Embark Studios, showcasing pre-alpha footage for THE FINALS:

It was a veritable feast of visual content; a glorious, colour-filled fantastical creation that positively screamed exhilaration. As one, we witnessed buildings collapsing dynamically, diverse characters creating bridges and barricades on the fly, and all manner of weaponry, both conventional and futuristic, being put to use. For years, the Battlefield franchise was thought of as the most realistic, destructive shooter on the market, but that’s a concept that has died out in recent years.

Now, it seems that the old DICE mentality of ‘if you can see it, you can destroy it’ has bled into Embark Studios’ first full project. These destructive capabilities and the diversity of the combat were referenced in a statement made by Gustav Tilleby, the creative director at Embark Studios:

‘We want to build a game that provides players with the tools to meaningfully interact, change, and use their world. So, this is a shooter; it’s a game where aiming and shooting is important. But it’s also a game where the players can use the environment, and adapt to changes in the environment.’

From melee weapons to traditional assault rifles and from foam guns to deployable turrets, THE FINALS boasts a remarkable arsenal. It’s important to stress that, despite the aesthetic, this is not a battle royale project – but never say never, right?

Embark Studios has been working hard behind closed doors to make THE FINALS ready for the earliest phases of testing. There’s a lot of top-tier talent working within this studio, which, in 2019, received almost $100m in the form of an investment by controlling stakeholder, Nexon Group.

As a chaotic, no-holds-barred, innovative project, THE FINALS is sure to make waves in the gaming space. Fortunately, players won’t have to wait long to get involved, as the Closed Alpha phase begins on September 29th. For PC players exclusively, the Closed Alpha can be accessed by applying through the Steam platform. As a Closed Alpha, there are certain restrictions involved, but if the pre-alpha gameplay trailer is anything to go by, it’ll be no time at all until a Beta stage is released – and beyond.

Ultimately, this intuitive, exciting first-person shooter is something the competitive scene needs to shake things up a bit, particularly if it boasts a high production value. Here’s a rapid breakdown to close off everything we know about THE FINALS thus far:

The Closed Alpha for THE FINALS will come to an end on October 3rd – after that point, it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens next.