What time does The Finals Season 9 start?

The Finals Season 9, Dragon Rising, will launch on Wednesday, December 10, with a theme inspired by Chinese legends and history.

Mixing ancient folklore with a modern urban backdrop, The Finals Season 9 adds a brand-new map decorated with neon signs, old temples, and at least one dragon (don’t worry, it probably won’t bite). During the Dragon Rising Season, you may get your hands on some flashy outfits ranging from demon-like costumes to gadget-loving assassins.

Here’s when The Finals Season 9 releases in your time zone, and what to expect from the Dragon Rising Season.

What time does The Finals Season 9 start in your time zone?

As announced on X (formerly Twitter), The Finals Season 9 will release on Wednesday, December 10 or Thursday, December 11, depending on your time zone.

Here's when the Dragon Rising Season begins according to your time zone:

• 8:00 a.m. PST on Wednesday, Dec. 10 for the west coast of North America
• 11:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Dec. 10 for the east coast of North America
• 1:00 p.m. BRT on Wednesday, Dec. 10 for Brazil
• 4:00 p.m. GMT on Wednesday, Dec. 10 for the U.K.
• 5:00 p.m. CET on Wednesday, Dec. 10 for western Europe
• 1:00 a.m. JST on Thursday, Dec. 11 for Japan
• 3:00 a.m. AEDT on Thursday, Dec. 11 for the east coast of Australia

What to expect from The Finals Season 9

Season 9 "Dragon Rising" adds an entirely new map to The Finals called Fangwai City, which mimics a Chinese megacity full of skyscrapers, dense residential blocks, gorgeous temples, and (it’s in the season’s name after all), a massive holographic dragon.

The most significant gameplay addition, however, is Point Break mode, in which two teams of eight players face off in an objective-based match. Over the course of various waves, one team will defend while the other attacks, with the frontline constantly shifting between them.

The Finals Season 9 also changes its progression system, expanding the World Tour page to include all game modes and allowing every type of game to contribute to your seasonal progression. The reward system, too, receives a makeover as you’ll be able to pick your own rewards rather than let the game decide for you. Various weapons and cosmetics will receive minor changes and improvements as well, and the smooth destruction system (responsible for impact damage from collapsing structures) will gradually find its way into every The Finals map over the course of Season 9, starting with Fangwai City right at the start of the season.