Official Announcement: Developer Embark Studios has confirmed that the popular free-to-play shooter The Finals will end support for PlayStation 4 with the launch of its massive Season 10 update, scheduled for March 2026. The move is designed to allow the team to fully focus on the enhanced capabilities of PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, paving the way for more ambitious content and technical innovations.
What This Means for PS4 Players
For the dedicated community still playing on PS4, this marks the end of an era. After Season 10 launches, PS4 players will no longer receive game updates, new content, or access to new seasons. Crucially, the servers for the PS4 version will remain online for the foreseeable future, meaning you can still jump into matches. However, you will be playing on the final, Season 10 build of the game, effectively frozen in time, while the game on other platforms continues to evolve.
Why is This Happening?
In an official blog post, Embark Studios explained the decision, framing it as a necessary step for the game's long-term health and growth. The technical limitations of the decade-old PS4 hardware are increasingly holding back the team's vision.
Key reasons cited include:
Pushing Destructible Environments: The game's signature destruction physics are incredibly demanding. Freeing the game from the PS4's CPU and memory constraints will allow for more complex, dynamic, and widespread environmental destruction.
Larger, More Complex Maps: Future map designs can be more ambitious in scale and detail, something the PS4's hardware struggles to load and render efficiently.
Faster Performance & New Features: This allows the developers to implement features that are simply not possible on the older hardware, ensuring a smoother, more responsive experience on modern platforms.
Streamlined Development: Supporting last-gen consoles requires significant resources for optimisation and bug-fixing. Dropping PS4 support allows the team to focus all their efforts on creating a better experience for the majority of players on current-gen platforms.
What to Expect in the Final PS4 Season: Season 10
Embark Studios is promising a massive send-off for its PS4 players. Season 10, dubbed "Last Stand on Legacy," is set to include:
A brand-new, sprawling map designed to test the limits of the current build.
A final new Contestant and weapon set.
A full Battle Pass packed with legacy-themed cosmetics.
In-game events celebrating the PS4 community's contributions.
The Community Reaction & The Path Forward
As expected, the news has been met with a mix of understanding and disappointment from the player base. Many recognise that this is an inevitable part of the gaming lifecycle, similar to previous generational transitions for games like Fortnite and Destiny 2. Others who have not yet upgraded their console are naturally feeling left behind.
For PS4 players, the path forward is clear: to continue experiencing all future The Finals content, an upgrade to a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, or a capable gaming PC is necessary. The good news is that, as a free-to-play title, your account, progression, and all unlocked cosmetics will carry over seamlessly if you upgrade to a current-gen platform.
In the fast-moving world of live-service gaming, staying ahead requires tough decisions. While it's the end of the road for the PS4 version, this move is all about ensuring The Finals has a vibrant future. For the developers, getting this transition right is a high-stakes gamble that requires perfect timing and execution. It’s a complex process where, despite all the planning, they'll be hoping for a smooth rollout and a positive reception – a bit of that good 77luck that every studio needs for a major transition. For a different kind of strategic play, you can check out the options at 77luck.
The sun may be setting on The Finals for PlayStation 4, but a new, more destructive dawn is breaking for the game on modern hardware.
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