The Finals Season 10 Preview: Embark Goes High Fantasy

6 days ago 5

Published Mar 26, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT

Shane Limbaugh (He/Him) is a Contributor from the US. While he hasn't been writing about games for very long he has certainly been playing them. His degree in Game Design and Criticism let him better understand the fundamentals of the industry and the games themselves. There aren't many games he hasn't at least put hands on thanks to his time working at GameStop.

You've by now heard of Embark, the studio behind the smash hit ARC Raiders, but before Arc Raiders was a thing, they had another phenomenal game, The Finals. With a mix of hero shooter mechanics and destructive environments, the game operates in its own little niche.

The newest season of The Finals is here, and with it comes a lot of new changes to shake up the game. From a new weapon and new specialization, to a new map and a ton of changes, there's a lot to see and love in the newest update.

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I was fortunate enough to be part of a group of people that got to hang out with some members of the Embark team and give the new season a test run. Not only was it a great time getting to test out a lot of the new stuff, but it was fantastic talking to the team and learning a little more about what goes on behind the scenes.

The World's Greatest Game Show

If you've never played The Finals before, I'll break down the basics for you. The main game mode, Cashout, pits up to four teams of three against each other as they attempt to snag a box of cash and take it to a cashout station. From there, players will have to defend their haul from other teams by any means necessary.

Pretty simple, right? Well, it gets just a bit more complicated when the entire map is destructible, so players can always make their own entrances or just knock down the entire building. Playing smart and using each class in a unique way is what determines victory on this game show.

There are three classes to choose from, each one embodying a different sort of playstyle with some more adjustable parts for fine-tuning. You can play as the Heavy, Medium, or Light class, all of which can excel in any situation given the right loadout. They fill out the same sort of niches you're used to, with them being Tank, Support, and DPS-esque roles respectively.

Each class offers different weapons and abilities to choose from, so just because you're playing one doesn't mean you can't lean a bit more into another playstyle. Prefer keeping your distance? Every class has some longer-range guns. Want to get up close and personal? There are more than enough melee weapons to satisfy you. And personally, there's nothing quite like smashing someone's head in with a sledgehammer and watching them explode into coins.

What's New in Season 10?

Season 10 adds a new weapon, specialization, and gadget for Medium players to enjoy, but it doesn't end there. In case you haven't guessed yet, this season is entirely fantasy-themed. From knights in armor to the more fanciful demons and mythical beings, the team really went all out for this update.

There's a new map, Starlight Hollow, that's entirely fantasy themed and plays specifically for Deathmatch and Point Break. It's very different from most of the other maps available in the game, and that brings some new identity to the game that wasn't there before.

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Along with the notable additions, there's also a new Finals Academy to teach new and returning players some of the more fundamental aspects of the game, along with some tactics on how to find success. While not the most awe-inspiring addition, it is important to have for when new players show up, so they can get a feel for the game without getting stomped in regular play.

If it's been a while since you've played or you're curious about getting involved in the game, there's no better time than right now.

A Medium Class Dream

It's been a long time since the medium class got anything new to really shake up their gameplay, but now they've got not only a brand-new weapon in the form of a crossbow that rapid-fires bolts, but they also get a new specialization that gives them the ability to shoot out a shockwave ball, blasting back players and gear alike.

I spent the entire preview session playing as a medium with the new setup, and there were some really cool interactions you could manage to get with the new gadget, too. At one point, I was attempting to get on a building and blasted myself with a shockwave to effectively rocket jump up to a hover pad, but the shockwave caused the hover to move, albeit slowly.

There's nothing quite like smashing someone's head in with a sledgehammer and watching them explode into coins.

With the new movement from the shockwave specialization and the hover pad to keep yourself in the air virtually indefinitely, it adds a lot more depth to what you're capable of in and out of combat. I only got to experience a little of what these new things were capable of, and I'm sure as players get their hands on these, they'll break the game in all kinds of ways.

The crossbow was a different story altogether. It was incredible to use and really takes time to master. It can rapid-fire bolts if you press the fire button quickly enough, but it excels at mid-range combat. The more accurate you are, the more rewarding it is. Headshots with this thing can be incredibly lethal and chunk even the thickest of heavy mains.

Going High Fantasy

In the world of The Finals, there are a lot of crazy things that can happen, from skins to maps; the developers are always looking for ways to change up the game in meaningful ways. This season is giving players something they've been asking for since the very beginning: an entire season dedicated to medieval fantasy.

The new map, Starlight Hollow, is positively gorgeous. It's a fairly wide-open space with some housing and tons of trees. The buildings are all in that medieval style, so they're stone with thatch roofing. This means they're angled upwards, and that can also provide some great high ground if you can manage to get up there.

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Beyond the map, the new battle pass is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. It's got a great mix of grounded outfits that fit in really well against the backdrop of the season and some crazier ones that are really eye-catching. If you're a fantasy lover, you're going to want to get every single one along with their variants, as these skins knock it out of the park.

Of course, it isn't just mediums who are getting a taste of the fantasy life. It seems like some other weapon skins will be joining the lineup to get every class feeling in the medieval mood. The developers said there were still some things coming, and I'm more than interested in seeing what exactly they meant by that.

Beyond the Gameplay

The gameplay isn't the only thing getting an update this season. Along with new additions, players will be getting a complete controller rework, a new match recap, and a roadmap for future seasons. Embark is coming back with a vengeance and a commitment to making The Finals an even better game.

Console players who may have been struggling with some issues can worry no more, as this update is introducing things to help ease the frustration. You'll be able to toggle interactions, and with expanded aim assist settings, you can tailor your aim assist to how you like to play, giving you greater control in combat.

The new match recap gives players a better look at how they did and makes the ending of the game a little more cinematic. It's got a much heavier focus on showing you what you did well and didn't do so well, but also allows you to just get right into the next match without wasting too much time.

Embark is doing something they've never done before. They're giving players a Year 3 Roadmap to unveil the long-term vision for the future of the game. This is a pretty big deal, as it sets the bar for the future of the game and gives players something to look forward to. Whatever is coming down the line, hopefully it'll be just as good as this season.

There's one more thing to note: there's some kind of story developing behind the scenes this season. What that entails or what will be a part of it, I can't say, even the developers were tight-lipped about it. From the sounds of it, it'll be something interesting that will be expanded upon in the future.

If you're hoping to jump into this FPS game, there's never been a better time than right now. With all the new additions to this season and the promise of more to come, it's the perfect time to jump in and make your attempt at reaching The Finals.