Embark Studios Releases Significant 1.4.0 Update for The Finals with Seasonal Maps and Gameplay Tweaks

The popular first-person shooter game, The Finals, has received its substantial second patch, version 1.4.0, just in time for the holiday season. This update ushers in a festive twist with winter-themed maps and comes packed with a host of balancing adjustments, enhancements intended to streamline the experience, and noteworthy anti-cheat upgrades.

The team at Embark Studios mentioned they are on the brink of resolving an issue that enabled cheaters to sidestep bans, signaling stronger game integrity ahead.

In addition to security improvements, the patch brings fine-tuning to the game's balance. Numerous abilities, gadgets, and weapons have undergone adjustments with the aim of facilitating fluid and equitable play. For example, the Mesh Shield's health has been reduced to offer a fairer advantage in battle, and the activation cost for Recon Senses is now lowered, making it more accessible.

The update has also tailored the impact of C4, diminishing both its damage radius and impact force while increasing the self-harm factor to ensure that its use comes with more strategy and risk. Other items, including the Dome Shield and various mines, have seen their effectiveness dialed down.

The Finals' festive additions don't stop there; players are even gifted a free Tactical Tidings Set to celebrate the season in style.

A more in-depth look at The Finals 1.4.0 update reveals numerous important changes that Embark Studios hopes will enrich gaming sessions:

Balancing Act for a Better Battle

The Goo Gun and Goo Grenade received fixes to prevent goo from obstructing players, while the Mesh Shield now boasts a health pool of 1100, down from 1250. Recon Senses becomes more user-friendly with a reduced activation cost.

Gadgets like the Dome Shield, Gas Mine, and Glitch Mine now come with an arming time, necessitating strategic placement and timing. Similarly, Mine, Pyro Mine, and RPG-7 have had their damage and radiuses scaled back, alongside the introduction of arming windows.

Meanwhile, the RPG-7 has seen a subtle increase in dispersion when aiming or firing from the hip, ensuring greater precision is required for effectiveness. Conversely, the Stun Gun has been given a range boost for extended reach.

Map Modifications and Mode Adjustments

The 'Alien Invasion' event in Game Show Events has been enhanced with repulsors on flying saucers, and the Vegas map received updates to improve the structural responses to destruction. There's also a resolution for a visibility issue related to cashout stations. In the Bankit mode, the Deathmatch game show event is now disallowed, promoting a more focused gameplay experience.

Weapon Tweaks for Streamlined Shooting

Weapons haven't been overlooked, with the AKM experiencing a slight recoil adjustment. The Flamethrower's fire rate is turned up, while the LH1 and M11's damage outputs are marginally increased. On the other hand, the SA1216 shotgun sees a slight uptick in pellet dispersion and a dip in damage per pellet. Notably, an issue with melee weapons not always connecting has been rectified, and an anomaly preventing the Riot Shield's visibility during interactions has been fixed.

Movement and UI Enhancements for a Polished Performance

The act of vaulting over objects has been refined to reduce unintended interactions, and zip lines can no longer be placed on pick-up items. The user interface has undergone various fixes, with improvements to contestant screens and a more intuitive social screen. The game now alerts players at risk of being kicked for inactivity, and player health bars can display in squad colors. Lastly, one's ranking as "unranked" will only appear if not within the top 500 leaderboard spots.

With The Finals patch 1.4.0 now live, players can look forward to a more balanced and engaging gaming experience crowned with a dash of holiday cheer.