Summary
Embark Studios releases update 1.5.5 forThe Finals, introducing a bunch of nerfs for popular weapons and gear including the Defibrulator, while also making important tweaks to Crossplay and Matchmaking services. Since theofficial launch ofThe Finalsduring The Game Awards 2023, Embark has continued to tweak and update the experience for the growing number of players.
Alongside the live-service format, Embark has continued to release new updates to add new features, tweak existing systems, as well as fix bugs that the community has identified. In fact, last week brought with itThe Finalsfirst limited time game mode called Solo Bank It, taking the familiar team-based mode and instead pitting 12 solo players against one another to see who can be the first to bank 40,000 in cash. The update also attempted to balance some of the stronger weapons in the game like the SH1900 shotgun, but it’s clear that Embark had a bit more it wanted to accomplish, which is where update 1.5.5 comes in.
The latest update forThe Finalsincludes even more weapon and gear balancing, as it attempts to bring some of the more popular items back in line. Specifically, when using defibrilators or when reviving a teammate, the period of invulnerability isn’t quite as long going from 1.5 seconds, to only 0.75. The Guardian Turret also had its health pool reduced slightly, while weapons like the .357 Revolver and FCAR saw their damage output lowered. However, the update did apply a few buffs as well, giving a slight increase to the damage ofHeavy Build Grenade launchers like the MGL32and CL-40.
Matchmaking Changes
For many players, though, the patch also features a big tweak toThe Finalsmatchmaking services. Specifically, the update fixes a bug where the player’s crossplay settings were being ignored outright, ensuring that if players have it turned off, they’ll no longer face anyone on other platforms. In addition, Embark Studios revealed that it made a background change to how matchmaking works in both the Tournament and Ranked versions, to keep tighter player skill-gaps. The goal with this change is to ensure closer matches and fewer blowouts.
Feedback has been a key component for Embark Studios, who has thanked the community in past updates for its continued communication. Since the game’s launch, aim assist had been a hot topic among players, with many calling for a rework. Embark did just that andcompletely reevaluated how aim assist worked inThe Finals. A earlier update introduced fixes for issues the studio found and tweaked some of the behaviors, like changing Zoom Snapping and Camera Magnetism.
Content And Bug Fixes
The Finals
WHERE TO PLAY
Viewers at home, here’s the news you’ve been waiting to hear: THE FINALS is accepting new contestants, and that means YOU! That’s right, soon the world could be watching YOU tear apart our newest dynamic arenas and seize everlasting fame!As you know, THE FINALS is the world’s greatest free-to-play combat game show! Our contestants plug in to our virtual world and join teams in escalating tournaments. They fight it out in our beautifully-rendered arenas based on real-world locations that they can alter, exploit, and even destroy.Sure, you can aim and shoot, but contestants that add our carefully curated virtual environments to their arsenal are more likely to advance, so do anything you can imagine in the name of victory! Burn arenas to the ground! Send wrecking balls crashing into your opponents! Don’t just pull triggers - pull down buildings!
