How to Download and Install The Finals Free Guide
Embark Studios' physics-driven game show shooter — fully destructible arenas, three-player squads, and a fight for cash and fame.
Visit Official Site →Is The Finals Free?
Yes. The Finals is free to play on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and Embark Studios has stated there are no plans to change that. There is no purchase required to download the game, play any mode, or access the full map rotation and destruction system.
The game is funded through optional cosmetic purchases using a virtual currency called MultiBucks. These purchases include weapon and outfit skins, emotes, cosmetic bundles, and the Premium and Ultimate Battle Passes — none of which provide any gameplay advantage. Every player also has access to a Free Battle Pass that rewards cosmetics and currency simply for playing matches.
The Finals is distributed on PC through Steam. There is no Epic Games Store version; the game is also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. PS4 support ended in March 2026.
System Requirements (PC)
Requirements below reflect Embark's official specifications (last updated February 2026).
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit) or later, latest update
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (minimum); Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (recommended)
- RAM: 12 GB minimum (16 GB recommended)
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 580 (minimum); NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (recommended)
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: ~53 GB download / ~90 GB installed; budget 100 GB free for updates and shader caches
- Internet: Broadband connection required for online play
How to Install The Finals
- Install Steam first. The Finals is distributed on PC through Steam. If you don't have it, download the client from store.steampowered.com/about and install it.
- Create or sign in to a Steam account. A free Steam account is required. Sign in, or create one and verify your email address.
- Find The Finals. Open the Steam Store and search for "THE FINALS". The game is free to play — there is no purchase required. On the store page, click the green Play Game button to add it to your library permanently.
- Install the game. Go to your Library, select The Finals, choose an install location, and click Install. The download is roughly 53 GB, expanding to ~90 GB on disk.
- Launch and create an Embark ID. On first launch, the game prompts you to create or link a free Embark ID. This is required to play online and enables cross-play and cross-progression.
- Complete the tutorial and Practice Range. Before queuing for a live match, finish the in-game tutorial and spend some time in the Practice Range.
Getting Started
- Start with Cashout (Bots). If you are new to The Finals, Embark recommends beginning with Cashout (Bots). This mode lets you play against AI-controlled opponents while learning the objectives, maps, and mechanics in a lower-pressure environment.
- Use the Academy. The Academy is a guided learning hub with short lessons on team play, attacking and defending objectives, the different Contestants and roles, and Cashout mechanics.
- Pick Medium for your first hours. The Finals has three classes — Light (150 HP, fastest, lowest survivability), Medium (250 HP, balanced, support-focused), and Heavy (350 HP, slowest, demolition-focused). Medium is the most forgiving class and teaches the core gameplay.
- Learn the Cashout loop. Locate and open a Vault, take the Cashbox, deposit it into a Cashout Station, and protect the station while the Cashout progresses. The team controlling the station when the Cashout completes gets the money. Objective → Team survival → Position → Eliminations.
- Understand destruction. Every surface in The Finals can be damaged or destroyed — walls, floors, ceilings, and bridges. Approach every room as temporary. Season 12's **destruction 2.0** makes buildings sag, bend, and deform gradually rather than breaking in a single animation.
- Play as a team. The Finals is built around teamwork. A good squad keeps at least one destruction tool, one mobility tool, and one support tool.
Useful Tips
- 🧱 Destruction is deliberate, not random. Every wall you break should help your team — creating a new sightline, opening a route to the objective, or dropping a floor under enemies.
- 🎯 Objectives beat kills. Chasing an enemy across the map while another team steals the Cashout is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
- 🏃 Movement is survival. The Light class has only 150 HP and relies entirely on movement; Medium has 250 HP and uses healing and revives; Heavy has 350 HP and controls space with shields and explosives.
- 💊 Revive teammates. Revives are a core team mechanic — Rookie Contracts reward you for doing them. A squad that revives stays in the fight.
- 🗺️ Change your entry point. New players approach The Finals like a corridor shooter and only use doors and stairs. Ask whether you can enter from another floor or break through a wall.
- ⚙️ Learn one class and one weapon first. The Medium class's AKM is a balanced starter assault rifle. Master one loadout before chasing every new unlock.
- 🎮 Complete the tutorial and Practice Range. Embark rebuilt onboarding and added Practice Range challenges based on real game situations.
- 🆓 The Free Battle Pass is automatic. Every player has access to a free reward track that gives cosmetics and currency for simply playing matches. Premium and Ultimate are paid cosmetic upgrades; the **Legacy** pass unlocks previous seasons' rewards.
- 💰 Budget storage realistically. The game is ~90 GB installed, not the 15 GB some older guides still quote. Keep 100 GB free so Season 12+ updates do not force you to uninstall something else.
The Finals vs Apex Legends vs Warzone
- The Finals: Physics-driven destruction, objective-based Cashout mode, three-player squads, three distinct classes (Light/Medium/Heavy). Fastest TTK of the three, with destruction changing every fight. Best for players who want dynamic, objective-focused combat.
- Apex Legends: Hero-shooter abilities, movement-heavy (sliding, mantling), longer TTK, and the classic battle royale format. Best for players who want squad tactics with hero depth.
- Warzone: Military setting, larger map sizes, loadout drops, Gulag second chance. More traditional shooter mechanics. Best for players coming from classic Call of Duty.
All three are free. The Finals rewards destruction creativity and objectives, Apex rewards movement and squad play, and Warzone rewards aim and map knowledge.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- ❌ The Finals won't launch. Verify game files in Steam: right-click The Finals → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity. If that fails, update your GPU drivers — the game uses Unreal Engine 5 with Nanite and Lumen, both sensitive to outdated drivers.
- 🐌 Low FPS on modern hardware. In Settings → Video, set Global Illumination to "Low" and disable ray tracing. Enable DLSS, FSR, or XeSS if your GPU supports it. Fullscreen (not Borderless Windowed) reduces latency.
- 🔊 No game audio or voice chat not working. In Windows Sound settings, confirm The Finals' output device is your default. For voice chat, check Settings → Audio → Voice Chat and set the correct input device.
- 🎮 Controller not detected. Plug in the controller before launching. On Steam, right-click The Finals → Properties → Controller and set Steam Input to "Disabled" to use the game's native controller support.
- 🌐 Cannot connect to servers. Check the official Embark status page — the game is occasionally affected by server outages. If servers are up, disable VPNs and check that Windows Firewall allows The Finals through.
- 💾 "Embark ID" login error. Usually requires email verification. Check your email for the Embark verification link. If that fails, sign out of Steam completely and back in — the Embark ID links to your Steam session.
- 💽 Install fails or drive fills up. The game needs ~90 GB installed and ~53 GB of download headroom. If Steam reports insufficient space, free at least 100 GB — the compressed download and the unpacked install coexist during patching.
- 🕹️ PS4 version no longer works. Embark retired PS4 support in March 2026 at the start of Season 10. Move to PS5, Xbox Series X\|S, or PC and link the same Embark ID to keep your progress and purchases.