THE LONG GAME
The Finals
A progress report on the games we just can’t quit
Developer/publisher Embark Studios
Format PC, PS5, Xbox Series
Release 2023
T hings have changed a lot since we previously checked in with The Finals. When it surpriselaunched in December, it seemed to be that rarest of things in the modern multiplayer landscape: an actual contender. But since then extremely noisy competitors such as Palworld and Helldivers 2 have arrived, and it’s no surprise to see that The Finals’ player numbers (as per SteamDB) have dropped to a tenth of their peak. But it is a shame, not least since, on returning after a couple of months away, we find a game that’s been not only expanded but improved.