In December, Embark Studios surprised gamers with the sudden release of The Finals, a fast-paced, destructible first-person shooter with hero elements. The game made an immediate splash, amassing a peak player count of 250,000 on Steam alone. The free-to-play shooter was crowned as a ‘major franchise pillar’ for Nexon, raising high expectations following its promising launch. However, the excitement appears to have waned as recent reports indicate the game isn't meeting its ambitious targets.
In Nexon's latest financial update, it was noted multiple times that The Finals is falling short of expectations. The launch of Season 2 in March brought a temporary spike in player activity, but retention and revenue were disappointingly low. To address these issues, the Embark team is now collaborating with Nexon's Korea-based Live Operations team. This partnership aims to identify and fix the underlying problems affecting the game’s performance.
Other titles in Nexon's portfolio, such as MapleStory and the highly successful DAVE THE DIVER, have posted solid results. Yet, these successes were somewhat overshadowed by The Finals' shortcomings. Nexon had anticipated higher revenue, but the game’s underperformance led to lower-than-expected financial results. Despite this, the game’s free-to-play model did help increase the overall number of monthly active users year-over-year, showing there is still a core audience engaged.
One positive note is that cheating issues, which initially plagued the game, haven't completely deterred its dedicated fan base. The Finals continues to draw interest, indicating that players see potential in the game despite its current challenges. Nexon is optimistic that upcoming updates and new content will reignite player enthusiasm. With Season 3 set to launch in June, there is hope for revitalized growth and improved metrics.
In conclusion, while The Finals initially seemed poised to become a major highlight in Nexon's lineup, it has stumbled in maintaining momentum. The game's struggle to retain players and boost revenue signals the need for immediate and effective remedies. As the company looks ahead to Season 3, there's cautious optimism that the new content and ongoing efforts to address player concerns will turn the tide. For now, Nexon remains committed to understanding the root causes and working towards a brighter future for The Finals.