Summary
Publisher Nexon has acknowledged thatThe Finalsis facing disappointing performance figures. Despite an impressive start,The Finalshas not met the publisher’s initial expectations in terms of player retention and revenue generation.
The Finalsis a free-to-play first-person shooterdeveloped by Embark Studios, featuring team-based matches in destructible environments inspired by a fictional VR combat game show. Players select from Light, Medium, or Heavy classes with distinct abilities and equipment, encouraging strategic gameplay. The game’s dynamic elements include player-modifiable terrain, varied weather conditions, and time of day, fostering emergent strategies and interactions.The Finalsoffers a blend of action and strategy, attracting a significant player base.
Nexon’s financial letterrevealed thatThe FinalsSeason 2initially led to a surge in player metrics. However, this increase was short-lived, and the game experienced lower-than-expected retention rates and revenue. The Embark team is collaborating with Nexon’s Korea-based Live Operations team to identify and address the key issues impacting the game’s performance. Although Nexon acknowledged stronger-than-expected revenues and performance in other titles such asEA Sports FConline andBlue Archive,The Finalsdid not meet the anticipated targets. According to Nexon, its strategy of delivering more content updates at a faster pace and introducing a new business model has shown early progress but has not fully translated into the desired outcomes forThe Finals.
The Finals' Initial Success
Despite these challenges, there is a silver lining for Nexon as they reported an increase in Average Monthly Active Users (MAUs) in Q1, reaching 18.3 million, marking an 18% year-over-year increase and a 5% quarter-over-quarter increase. The MAUs were positively impacted byThe Finals, which contributed to the consolidated MAUs rising both year-over-year and sequentially.The Finalsinitially garnered attention with its successful debut on Steam, attracting over 200,000 concurrent players and quickly reaching a milestone of 10 million players within two weeks.
The game’s popularity soared, eventually leading it to claim the top spot in Xbox’s “Top Free Game” rankings, surpassing established titles likeFortniteandCall of Duty: Warzone. However, despite its initial success,The Finalshas faced criticisms, particularly regarding performance issues and the use of text-to-speech AI for character voices.
Meanwhile, Embark Studios continues to work to enhanceThe Finalsby introducing new content updates and fixes. As the developer navigates the challenges, it remains to be seen if the game will overcome its current setbacks and regain momentum in the competitive gaming landscape.
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’re able to 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!
