[Sorry, I've missed a few of these!]

CHROMED UP

We’ve got a shiny new Store Update and a sale dropping in the Arena alongside some exciting TGM updates with our first team officially advancing to Stockholm!

STORE | ATOMIC LIFESTYLE SET

Crank that analog dial to the max and let the musical waves flow through the Arena while keeping yourself safe from changes in atmospheric pressure with the Atomic Lifestyle Set. Mono never sounded this good.

We are also running a sale!
For a limited time, a selection of really cool bundles have an extra discount applied to them, including our friend Shieldon! That’s one happy turtle.

ESPORTS | THE FIRST GOLDEN TICKET

Cycle 3 has wrapped up across all three regions, and somebody is already preparing to pack their baggage. Five Fears are the first team anywhere to lock a direct invite to The Grand Major 2026, and they did it with a whole cycle to spare.

EMEA

We decided to hand it over to Scotty to give us the rundown on how Cycle 3 happened:

SCOTTY: “Here’s how you make history folks: lose your opening Cashout match, drop into the lower bracket, and win the entire show from there! What a rollercoaster for the fans of Five Fears!”.

Five Fears took Cycle 3 the hard way for back-to-back cycle titles, and their 275 points put them mathematically out of reach before Cycle 4 even started. Alliance reached their first ever top two, and Teiko put points back on the board after that Cycle 2 wipeout. EMEA’s last cycle is now a fight over Closed Qualifier positions, and it is wide open.

AMERICAS

Now this is the most exciting lineup. Looking at the leaderboard, two teams at the top are tied on 155 points. Unphased and Luminon Gaming join four other teams to fight for one cycle win that can determine the golden ticket. That begins this Saturday August 15th via the Open Qualifiers stage.

EMEA

HIBOO are defending the lead for the first time after back-to-back cycle wins, KZ sit five points behind on 225 with the same roster they started the season with, and DRG on 200 are quietly close enough to ruin both their weekends.

So here’s the math for everyone else. Most points after Cycle 4 takes your region’s golden ticket to The Grand Major 2026 hosted at DreamHack Stockholm, November 27-29th. One seat at that table is already taken.

And the last entry window of the regular season is still open. Every contestant that was tested on those broadcasts started in the Open Qualifiers, taking the same shot anyone can take, including you. Build your team and claim your spot:

AMERICAS Sign Up | Cycle 4 Qualifiers begin 15th August

EMEA Sign Up | Cycle 4 Qualifiers begin 22nd August

So grab your teammates, pick a team to root for, and ask yourself the big question:

CAN YOU REACH THE FINALS?

I recently picked up a DualSense Edge controller, and I'm really loving how responsive it is at high sensitivities. The gyro feels a lot faster and more accurate, so I've been able to land some clean flicks and swipes lately. :)

We’ve brought some shiny cosmetics your way in this week’s Store Update. Next week, get ready to dust off your favorite pair of dancing shoes, they’ll come in handy.

In a complaint filed June 26 in Multnomah County Court, Martin says she received an email from her manager in late 2025 informing employees the company planned to begin installing video cameras in some of its rigs and vans as part of a “test phase” where patient treatment would be recorded. The manager also reportedly said that in an effort to protect patient privacy, only video would be recorded.

Martin said that in February when she and her partner were assigned one of the rigs outfitted with cameras, she noticed they were pointed at patients and recording audio in addition to video. She said she and her partner each reached out to their supervisors to report their concerns and ask for clarity, but never heard back.

Based on her own online research of local laws, Martin said she believed the recordings were illegal. She covered the camera in her rig and turned off its microphone. She also said no signage was added to the vehicles that contained the cameras and management continued to ignore employee concerns about protecting patient privacy. A few days later, she said she was contacted by her supervisor regarding an investigation into tampering with one of the cameras. Shortly after, she was placed on administrative leave and later terminated.

In this blog we’re introducing the new melee system we’re releasing with Season 11. We’ll explain how it works, what we’ve changed, and what we’re hoping to achieve with these changes.

Let’s dive into this rework with Design Director on THE FINALS, Matt Lowe!

[...]

READY FOR DEPARTURE

Welcome to Season 10’s last update!
Sponsor Showdown is almost over, the Store got refreshed and XP Feast is still live to help you finish these last Battle Pass pages. In the meantime, Season 11 is right around the corner, and we can’t wait to start sharing more very, very soon™

STORE | FLAMINGLE TOP

It sure is warm in the Arena!

Show off your digital suntan in the Arena with the Flamingle and Floral State Tops!
We’ve also brought back some 4th of July bundles alongside the brand new Fourth of Mayhem Set for the Thermal Bore. Make an impact, and make it spark!

ESPORTS | STEP RIGHT UP

Step right up, contestants. The stage is set, the crowd is cheering, and the next big storyline is about to be written!

This weekend, the World’s Greatest Gameshow kicks into gear. On Saturday 4th July, EMEA heads into its Top 16. And on Sunday 5th July, AMERICAS cuts it down to the Top 8.

Last cycle in AMERICAS, Envy barely made it through the Top 16, scraping in as the final seed, sitting one loss away from elimination. Then the Top 8 began, and it all changed. They won every single game, and walked away as the Cycle 1 winners.The question is simple: can anyone knock The 2025 Grand Major champions off the top spot?

EMEA had its own underdog story. Teiko also qualified dead last, then tore through the region in stunning fashion. With Etelco flying the flag for Medium mains and pushing the class in new directions, Pika and Oji helped turn that innovation into a finale win over Five Fears (after playing hide and seek under a staircase?!).Now the region has had time to study. Will EMEA find an answer, or is Teiko still one step ahead?

Two regions over two nights, and as we like to say: Everyone loves an underdog!

If you’re wondering about APAC, competition is heating up. KZ, the ice-cold Chinese roster, still sit top of the overall leaderboard, and are closing in on a direct ticket to The Grand Major. But do not get comfortable, because they just got stunned in the Cycle 2 final by HIBOO, the Korean side who ripped the title away on the back of Byusl, clutching two separate near 1v3’s with the trusty BFR!

Even if tournaments are not usually your thing, this is a great weekend to take a peek at the limits being pushed in the Arena! Every Contestant started this stage via Open Qualifiers, taking the same kind of shot that anyone can take, including you! Don’t miss your opportunity, build your team and sign up here:

APAC Sign Up
AMERICAS Sign Up
EMEA Sign Up

So tune in, grab an OSPUZE (or two), pick a favorite team, steal a few ideas and ask yourself the big question:
CAN YOU REACH THE FINALS?

Sponsor Showdown is still underway alongside the XP Feast Event! It is also the last week to try out Respec Order 2.0 and send us your precious feedback!

STORE | MAIDENPLATE

Make sure bullets are ricocheting off your chest in style with the MaidenPlate Top!
Built to improve your survivability in the Arena without sacrificing your sense of fashion.

NOTE: The Glow Getter Charm is currently missing from the Luminous Riot Set but will be added as soon as possible.

EVENT | RESPEC ORDER 2.0

Respec Order 2.0 is still live for another week!

On top of the health and movement speed changes brought to the Light and Heavy archetypes, this new version of Respec Order brings some experimental balance changes with it. Read about it in detail in Matt’s blogpost.

If you’ve had time to try it out, we welcome your feedback directly on our Discord server, and if you haven’t yet, there’s still a whole week to give it a shot!

We’re kicking off this week with a fresh Store Update, alongside a special sale on some items, brought to you by OSPUZE!

STORE | FIZZKICK BRAWLER

It’s time to kick it off and skip straight to overtime, because you don’t need more than that to make your mark in the Arena! Dribble through the defense, they won’t even see it coming.
We’re also running a special sale on select bundles, now until next week!

EVENT | SAFEHOUSE PASS

It’s the last week to get your hands on the SafeHouse Pass, brought to you by ALFA ACTA!
Get what your dog and your family deserve, the best of Home defense, right at your fingertips.
Guaranteed effectiveness for one simple price.

We’ve got one more week of Dragon’s Claim, so the battle for the banner rages on!
You also have one more week to spend your tickets, spin the wheel, and earn prizes, but the Daily Contracts that earn you tickets have officially ended. So don’t forget to spend your remaining tickets and collect your free rewards!

STORE | THE FACE OFFENDER SET

It’s time to get medieval on the opposing team!

Chainmail wasn’t designed for bullets? The Chain Reaction top can and will protect you from most hazards you’ll encounter in the Arena. Spike the Healing Emitter just rolled into your life! He has a cute face and will give you heals and splinters! Handle with care!

For those who like to edit their Finals clips, somebody has put together a great asset pack with effects and transitions from official The Finals trailers! The creator put a Google Drive link to the files in the YT description; it's about 20 GB altogether, about 18 GB of which are full trailers (so if you just want glitch effects and transitions, etc, it's much smaller).

I know there's a couple of users here who like sharing clips, so maybe this will be of use to those of us. :)

I spent about 3 hours trying to get as many shots to sync to the beat as possible. 😵‍💫

A new store update has landed inside the Arena, and do not forget to check out Dragon’s Claim, where a fierce battle awaits you alongside a lot of goodies!

STORE | THE FACE OFFENDER SET

In the Arena, they are playing your game. Spawn in, complete your objective and don’t let anyone stop you with the Face Offender Set. Get a grip on the Hands-On Approach Revolver and land softly in the Arena with some Pip slippers from ÖRF!

EVENT | DRAGON’S CLAIM

The Dragon is still roaming the Arena, and with it, the battle for the control of the banner continues in Dragon’s Claim. Don’t forget to participate daily to win up to 3 tickets to spin the wheel and earn some cool cosmetics! And with the addition of Golden tickets, you’re sure to be rewarded.

GAME UPDATE | BUG FIXES

Modes

Dragon’s Claim

• Fixed an issue so this mode now rewards players with World Tour points
• The Chimera-XB now has proper ammo amount in Private Matches

Known Issue

Scales of Fortune

• We are aware of an issue with the Scales of Fortune wheel where a duplicate slot can convert into a Golden Ticket before the wheel stops spinning, making it appear that a Golden Ticket has been awarded. In actuality, you have just landed on a duplicate, so the golden ticket slot has been created. The functionality of the wheel is correct, this is a visual bug.

This game is so goofy sometimes :)

CROWD CONTROL

This week we have a refreshed Store and a sale on multiple sets! We’ve heard rumors of a large shadow looming over the Arena, but that might just be someone horsing around. To be safe, Contestants should keep their guard up, next week will bring a spark to the show.

STORE | ORDERKEEPER SET

It is time someone brings some order to the Arena, and we’re giving you the tools to do so with the Orderkeeper set. Yield to no-one, maintain control, and make sure your authority is understood by other Contestants. If not, correction may be applied.

Why the long face? There’s also a small addition we just couldn’t say neigh to, so giddyup and trot on into the store to see it for yourself.

We’re also running a special sale on multiple fan-favorites such as the Death by Rhodent and Hellborne sets, now until next week!

Store trailer

I live in a legal state, so the other day I enjoyed the luxury of buying a THC cartridge from my local dispensary, and began using it as one does. Things were A-OK for a couple days, but suddenly the cartridge stopped working. I did some troubleshooting, and the best I could tell was that it was just faulty, and that as luck would have it, that fault wouldn't appear until I had already used about a quarter of the product.

However, the dispensary has an excellent return policy on cartridges, and will refund it within 30 days if it stops working. They've told me about this policy dozens of times as I've bought cartridges from them in the past, but this would be the first time I would put that policy to the test.

I had kinda low expectations that they'd accept it for a full refund, since I already used about a quarter of it before it stopped working. I thought maybe they'd give me 3/4 of my money back, at best. And I'd have considered that to be a totally fair exchange, honestly. But instead, the guy behind the counter was super apologetic and went to the cabinet to get a brand new cartridge for me.

There was a slight price difference, since it was a different strain, so he said he'd have to ring it up to issue me a refund for the difference. I told him I didn't think that was necessary since, again, I had already used a considerable amount of the original cartridge. But he insisted on refunding me the difference, so I let him ring it up.

"Oh, and since today's Saturday, all our carts are 20% off, so that'll actually be even more of a refund," he says as he scans the barcode. I'm kind of blown away at this point because, and I don't think I can stress this point enough, I had already used a significant portion of the first cartridge to begin with.

He asked me if I had a rewards account with them, which I don't. He says they'd prefer to issue the refund as a store credit, but that's also totally fine that I don't have an account, anyway. The lengths this man is going to is astounding. Then he says "so our cash refund process is actually kind of annoying and I don't like doing it, would you be cool if instead of the $12 difference in cash, I just hook you up with a $15 battery or maybe 3 of the $5 pre-rolls or something?"

I tell him "my guy, I would've been happy with half of what you've offered me already, but uh... I'll take a battery, I guess!" So he gives me a brand new battery that I get to keep as a spare, a full and fresh cartridge of a strain that I'm honestly enjoying better than the first one, and I basically got my high for the last few days completely for free. I almost feel like I robbed the place, a little bit.

That's been about the "coolest" thing that's happened to me in quite a while, so I feel this is sufficiently dull. I hope the rest of your day is adequate.

I found out about this movie while watching a Corridor Crew video discussing the making of this film (very interesting insights into the production, if interested). This is a really amazing stop-motion film from 1979 that was made almost entirely by one single guy, Mike Jittlov, in a time before CGI and digital editing were available.

This was also before you even had the ability to do frame previews, meaning that all of the stop-motion shots were arranged purely by muscle memory, with Mike maintaining his position and pose on set with perfect accuracy for every frame.

I just thought this was a really cool piece of film history that more people should be aware of. :)

Store Update 10.4.0

Check it out below!

STORE | WIDE WATCH KIT

Win any arguments efficiently and shield yourself from any consequences with the Wide Watch Kit. They’ve told you to be blunt, after all..

GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK | RESPEC ORDER

The Respec Order Event has come to a close! Thank you to everyone who gave it a try, provided feedback, and joined the conversation in the community!

If you want to know a bit more about the test, tune in today for Oscar’s Stream with special guest, Matt Lowe, Design Director of THE FINALS. Matt will be answering some of the questions that have been asked over on the fan-run Reddit.

We’re still collecting feedback on the Official Discord Server for THE FINALS.

Join us tonight at 5PM CEST on Twitch & YouTube

See you in the chat!

Hotfix 10.4.1

We’ve solved an issue with achievements, which should now be back in working order.

Thanks for all the swift reports, and for your patience while we solved this frustrating bug!

SEE YOU IN THE ARENA!

Store refresh trailer on YouTube

http://www.bishopanimation.com/

This film "67" was created during the 1998 Ottawa International Animation Festival by a group of volunteers under the direction of Jan Pinkava. The film is stop motion, filmed in one long day and edited the next. It was shown on the closing night of the festival. If you look closely in the end, you'll see me, Floyd Bishop. I've got the brown sweater.

Credits: Jan Pinkava, Jordan Craig, Carolyn Craig, Rob Anderson, Jean Claude Kalache, Denis LeLong, Carol Beecher, Floyd Bishop Jr, Heather Hosel, Hugo Desrosiers, Karen Oxhorn, Susan Campbell, Charlie Hill, Ginette Brisson, Chris Mullington, Ed Eagen, and sculpture by Ulysse Comtois.

While the virtual bunnies are leaving the Arena and the Easter festivities are winding down, we’ve carved up a pretty neat Store update for you all as well as a fix for the automatic server selection. Check it out below!

STORE | BULL'S EYE BARREL SET

THE WOODEN ORIGINAL

For he was once only created for Contestants to mindlessly train upon him, chained to his own fate, Barrel has now freed himself and is looking to hand out some splinters in the Arena. Gone are the days of standing in Barry’s shadows, this time, Barrel will rise above the competition, a plank expression and a new target on his mind.

GAME UPDATE | BUG FIXES

Server Performance

Fixed an issue that could cause players queuing from outside the EU, US and Asia to matchmake to servers from the wrong region when using “automatic” region selection

HOP IN!

Easter has reached the Arena, and with that we’re bringing back a classic Limited-Time Mode with a twist alongside a freshly updated Store.

EVENT | BUNNY HOP

Bunny Hop is now live!

Fight for the control of the Easter-basket platform on Powershift with custom loadouts and, as a little twist, we’ve enabled Super Jump! Expect trouble from above, keep control of the platform and complete special contracts to earn some eggciting free rewards!

STORE | URBAN PALADIN SET

Your blade is forged from centuries of craftsmanship and imbued with modern technology, ready to take on any foe. The Urban Paladin Set combines the brutal strength of a knight armor while still being urban-ready for encounters under the bright spotlights of our Arenas. Victory will be your crowning.

Easter cosmetics are also back in store for the festive season!

GAME UPDATE | BUG FIXES

• Server Performance
• Fixed a Server Crash introduced in 10.0

Fixed a bug with the disconnect penalty forgiveness introduced in 10.0 which caused players to still receive penalties, despite reconnecting and winning