The Finals update makes improvements to its anti-cheat software and adds a Christmas twist to the Monaco map

Embark Studios has released a new patch for The Finals, adding improvements to its anti-cheat detection.

Earlier this week, the developer addressed the ongoing cheating issues plaguing its first-person multiplayer shooter and confirmed that it was in the process of bolstering the title’s EAC (Easy Anti-Cheat) system.

With Patch 1.4.0, the studio has “made major changes to our anti-cheat detection to ensure fewer matches with players who don’t play fair.” With any luck, players should now be spared from disrupted games. 

Alongside various balance changes and quality-of-life improvements “across the entire game,” including various weapons and abilities like the Goo Gun and Mesh Shield, Embark is also treating players to a free Christmas bundle to celebrate the holidays.

The bundle expires on January 3 and comes with the Ho Ho Hat, Stocking Stuffer charm, Festiver Firepower grenade skin, and a Deck the Halls sticker. There’s also a new Holiday Spirit set available in the in-game store for 1000 Multibucks which includes a festive elf costume. 

What’s more, the Monaco map has also received a temporary snowy makeover to coincide with the game’s Christmas event. You can check out the trailer below, along with the full patch notes.

The Finals version 1.4.0 patch notes 

Balance Changes

Abilities

• Goo Gun – Fixed an issue where goo could block the player
• Mesh Shield – Mesh Shield Health reduced to 1100 from 1250
• Recon Senses – Recon Senses activation cost reduced to 1 from 2

Gadgets

C4 

• C4 max player damage reduced to 210 from 240
• C4 max damage radius reduced to 1.6m from 2.4m
• C4 self-damage multiplier increased to 1.3 from 1

Dome Shield

• Dome Shield health reduced to 300 from 350

Gas Mine

• Gas Mine arming time added (1.6 seconds)

Glitch Mine

• Glitch Trap arming time added (1.6 seconds)

Goo Grenade

• Fixed an issue where goo could block the player

Mine

• Mine max player damage reduced to 140 from 160
• Mine damage radius reduced to 3.5m from 4m
• Mine arming time added (1.6 seconds)

Pryo Mine

• Pyro Mine arming time added (1.6 seconds)

RPG-7

• RPG-7 max player damage reduced to 150 from 165
• RPG-7 min player damage reduced to 80 from 90
• RPG-7 damage radius reduced to 4.5m from 4.75m
• RPG-7 max damage radius reduced to 1.5m from 2.5m
• RPG-7 aim-down sights dispersion increased slightly
• RPG-7 hip-fire dispersion increased slightly

Stun Gun

• Increased Stun Gun range to 12m from 10m

Maps

Game Show Events

• Added a repulsor to the flying saucers in the ‘Alien Invasion’ event

Vegas

• Updated strain in various buildings, to give better destruction results
• Resolved an issue where cashout stations would become invisible before players finished the transfer

Modes

Bankit

• Disallowed Deathmatch game show event from occurring in BankIt game mode

Weapons

AKM

• Slight adjustment to AKM recoil pattern

Flamethrower

• Flamethrower fire rate increased to 170 from 160

LH1

• LH1 damage increased to 47 from 45

Melee Weapons

• Fixed an issue where melee hits didn’t always connect with enemy players

M11

• M11 damage increased to 16 from 15

Riot Shield

• Fixed a bug where the shield would block bullets, while invisible, during interactions (e.g. reviving or stealing extractions)

SA1216

• SA1216 pellet dispersion increased slightly
• SA1216 damage per pellet reduced to 7 from 8

Movement

Vaulting

• Reduced instances where you unintentionally climbed on objects outside of the player’s view.
• Fixed an issue where players could get stuck without being able to give input

Ziplines

• Prevented placement of ziplines on pickupables

UI

• Various fixes to contestant screens
• Polish to the social screen, which now hides the “Invite to party” button when you are not the party leader
• Added a warning to the UI that appears when players are in danger of being AFK kicked
• Player health bars now use the squad color when selected in the settings
• UI shows you as “unranked” unless you’re among the top 500 on the leaderboards

For more, be sure to check out our list of the best FPS games as well as the best co-op games available right now.