THE FINALS Update 12.2.0: New Store Items and Balance Changes

THE FINALS shipped Update 12.2.0 on November 5, pairing a new Store rotation with a set of weapon balance changes that target the Medium class specifically. Embark Studios also used the patch notes to confirm details on THE GRAND MAJOR 2026 (TGM26) and to remind Contestants that the Frights Galore Halloween event is about to close its doors.

01THE FINALS Update 12.2.0 Goes Live

Embark posted the 12.2.0 notes to Steam on November 5, describing the release as a lighter patch focused on the in-game Store, event housekeeping, and a single round of weapon tuning. Unlike a full seasonal drop, the balance changes in 12.2.0 are what Embark calls "tweakable" adjustments — numbers-only tweaks the studio can push without a client update, because they don't touch new code, audio, animations, or visual effects. A second, smaller round of Medium-focused changes is already planned for patch 12.3 to support this week's tuning.

THE FINALS is Embark Studios' free-to-play destruction shooter, built around three-person squads competing for cash across modes like Cashout, Power Shift, and Team Deathmatch in arenas that can be blown apart in real time. The game is currently running its Season 12 content, which added remastered arenas, a dynamic commentator system, and a new solo-friendly tournament mode on top of the existing Cashout and Ranked League rotation. Update 12.2.0 doesn't touch any of that season-level content directly — it's a mid-season maintenance patch that keeps the weapon pool and the Store moving between bigger drops.

02Weapon Balance Changes: AKM, Chimera-XB and FCAR

The dev note is explicit about the goal: give the Medium class a better chance in duels against the current 175 HP Light build, and open up more viable tracking-aim weapons in the Medium's pool, without touching Light or Heavy directly. Embark says Heavy absorbed its own HP cut back in patch 12.0 without losing effectiveness, thanks to its defensive kit, and expects Medium's buffs to land in a similar way.

The confirmed weapon changes in 12.2.0:

• AKM — magazine size increased from 34 to 36 rounds.
• Chimera-XB — damage per shot increased from 47 to 48, and rate of fire increased from 260 RPM to 280 RPM.
• FCAR — damage per shot increased from 23 to 25, rate of fire decreased from 530 RPM to 500 RPM, and magazine size decreased from 25 to 20 rounds.

Embark frames the FCAR change as a deliberate identity shift, pushing the rifle back toward the slower-firing, harder-hitting role it held earlier in THE FINALS' lifespan so it reads less like a reskinned AKM and more like its own pick for players who prefer landing fewer, bigger hits over sustained spray.

03New Store Items: Goat Expectations and Dual Shockers

The Store refresh headlines two new cosmetic sets. The Goat Expectations Set leans into the farmyard joke its name promises, while the Dual Shockers Set is aimed at players chasing a deliberately retro, pixelated look. Neither set changes gameplay — Embark's Store additions in THE FINALS are purely cosmetic, same as the Halloween-themed items players have been unlocking through Frights Galore.

04TGM26 Cosplay Showcase Announced for DreamHack Stockholm

Embark also used the patch notes to detail a new community event tied to THE GRAND MAJOR 2026. THE GRAND MAJOR is THE FINALS' flagship competitive event, bringing top Contestant teams together alongside casters and analysts for a broadcast tournament, and this year's edition is set to run at DreamHack Stockholm. THE FINALS Cosplay Showcase will run live on stage during TGM26, open to any Contestant willing to show off a build or bought costume in front of the event's Sponsors and audience. Every participant receives a Diploma and in-game Multibucks regardless of placement, with merch on offer for standout entries. Embark's companion post on the social platform X confirmed the showcase lands on November 27, and full sign-up details are posted on the official site.

05Frights Galore Event Ticket Deadline

Update 12.2.0 doesn't extend the Frights Galore Halloween event, which Embark says is closing "in a few more days" from the November 5 patch. Any tickets earned during the event need to be spent before it shuts down, since unredeemed tickets won't carry over once the storefront rotates to its next theme.

Embark's 20-second reveal for the Goat Expectations Set, one of two new looks added in Store Update 12.2.

Store Update 12.2 This week we're bringing a refreshed Store, more info about TGM26 and some balance changes. You still have a few more days to redeem any tickets you may have left before the Frights Galore Event closes! 🪦 Check out the full Patch notes here 👇

— THE FINALS (@reachthefinals) on X

06What's Next for THE FINALS

Embark has already flagged patch 12.3 as the next stop for Medium balance, continuing the work started in 12.2.0 without requiring Contestants to wait on a full client patch for the follow-up numbers. Beyond that, the build-up to TGM26 is clearly ramping up: expect more Store content, talent announcements, and event details on THE FINALS' official channels in the weeks before the November 27 cosplay showcase and the tournament itself.