Despite launching in late 2023 as a free-to-play, arena-based FPS game with the intention of competing against major titles like Apex Legends and CS2, The Finals has not seen a significant increase in player interest or player count.
Since its launch, the player count for The Finals has continuously dropped in 2024, and here’s why.
When it comes to FPS games, The Finals appears to offer everything that players desire, with only a few exceptions. The game includes a light, medium, and heavy class, each equipped with a range of weapons and gadgets. Its combat is fast-paced, and it offers competitive modes, as well as a wide selection of in-game cosmetics to personalize your character.
Despite all of its efforts, The Finals has been unable to retain player interest and has seen a decline of over 200,000 players on Steam since its release. While there is no single reason for this significant decrease in player numbers, there are several issues that may have contributed to it.
Projected Number of Participants in the 2024 Finals
Based on data from SteamDB, as of April 3, 2024, The Finals has a player count of around 28,000. This is a significant decrease from its peak at launch in December 2023, when it had an impressive 242,619 active players.
However, what factors led to this decline in the number of players?
Addressing the Content Problem in The Finals
Despite its 404 characters, The Finals offers a significant amount of depth in its gameplay. As previously mentioned, there are multiple classes to select from, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The skill gap in The Finals is also considerable, meaning that dedicating time and effort to the game will make you stand out from other players. However, although it has depth, it may be lacking in range.
The Finals offers two playable game modes, Quick Cash and Bank It. Quick Cash is a casual mode where teams compete for control of a single vault. Respawn times are short and the stakes are low. In contrast, Bank It is a highly competitive mode where 4 teams must strategically extract as much money as possible from multiple vaults scattered throughout the map and deposit it within a 15-minute time limit.
Both of these modes provide enjoyable and exhilarating gameplay. However, the issue arises when these experiences become repetitive with each playthrough. While there may be occasional instances of encountering something novel, they are typically rare occurrences.
The Finals has faced criticism for lacking custom lobbies or private matches. Many in the community feel that, due to the game’s strong focus on competition, the inclusion of private matches would attract even more competitive players by offering the opportunity to organize their own tournaments.
With the constant release of new games, gamers have a limited attention span. Despite having received multiple updates, such as a Christmas-themed event and the recent Season 2 update, The Finals still lacks enough content to hold players’ interest for extended periods of time. This was also evident at its initial launch.
The Controversy Surrounding A.I in the Finals
The possibility of AI replacing voice actors and in-game commentary has been a topic of discussion since before The Finals was even released. While some players have expressed indifference towards it, there is also a large group who view it as a lack of effort and creativity. A
He continued by stating that the implementation of AI tools during The Finals enables the team to “improve efficiency and productivity while minimizing resources.”
Despite the current controversy, Embark Studios remains committed to integrating AI into The Finals. However, this choice may have hindered the players’ ability to form a deeper connection with the game.
The Possibility of a Revival for The Finals
Despite the challenges currently faced by The Finals, the game continues to have a devoted and thriving community. This can largely be credited to its fluid gameplay and competitive aspects. There is still room for improvement and growth, as the developers have the opportunity to address player suggestions, introduce more diverse content, and enhance the overall immersion to appeal to a wider audience and maintain their player base.
One of the key strengths of games such as Call of Duty is their ability to continuously innovate and refresh their gameplay experience. This is achieved through the introduction of new game modes as well as revisiting successful models from the past. An excellent illustration of this is the recent re-introduction of Rebirth in Warzone.
Despite the ever-changing demands of the modern-day gaming landscape, The Finals can still be revitalized by actively listening to players, implementing consistent updates, engaging with the community, and introducing new and innovative features.
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