The gaming world has witnessed the meteoric rise of a new contender in the free-to-play shooter arena with “The Finals,” which has made a splash in its open beta phase.
The game, developed by Embark Studios, has drawn an impressive crowd of 7.5 million players eager to dive into its fast-paced, destruction-laden gameplay. This figure is particularly notable considering the beta was available across PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.
The open beta served as a proving ground for players to experience the game’s mechanics, which include a unique blend of tournament-style and casual matches set within destructible environments.
This aspect of the game, reminiscent of the destruction capabilities in the Battlefield: Bad Company series, has been a standout feature, garnering praise from participants in the beta.
Despite a few technical hiccups at the outset, particularly with client crashes on Xbox and PlayStation 5, the issues were swiftly addressed, allowing for a smoother beta experience. This open beta marked the first time console players could join the fray, following previously held closed alpha and beta tests on Steam.
The game’s premise is set in a futuristic game show where players battle it out not just for survival, but for massive cash prizes, adding a layer of high stakes to the already intense gameplay.
The Open Beta has come to an end!
An unforgettable week for us — a whopping 7.5 MILLION contestants entered the arena! Now it’s time for us to hunker down and get back to work on all the fixes and improvements you helped us identify. GG and until next time! 🫶#REACHTHEFINALS pic.twitter.com/JI1KXQMNdr
— THE FINALS (@reachthefinals) November 6, 2023
While the beta feedback was largely positive, concerns about cheating did surface, which is an issue the developers will likely need to address before the game’s full release.
With the open beta’s success, “The Finals” has certainly carved out a space for itself in the competitive landscape of multiplayer shooters. As the industry often sees new titles come and go, the significant interest shown in “The Finals” bodes well for its longevity post-launch.
