The Finals entered a closed beta period recently, and it's impressing many with the scale of its destruction mechanics. In this multiplayer FPS project led by former Battlefield developers, the blast of a rocket or explosive charge can cause entire corridors to detach, fall, then crumble beneath the game's urban architecture. The team at Embark Studios is promising pretty dynamic demolitions, which seems to be as impactful as the aforementioned military shooter franchise.

While it is still deep in development, The Finals is confirmed to be utilizing a server-side physics system for those wreaking havoc across its breakable levels. Systems of destruction physics in games are often complicated, but Embark could have a solution that grants more freedom and consistency as the match progresses. One of the key problems that it's trying to solve is the persistence of damaged areas, as larger chunks of debris have the potential to change how players navigate the map.

RELATED: Mirror's Edge Easter Egg Found on New Battlefield 2042 Map

How The Finals Compares to Battlefield's Destruction Features

battlefield-2042-large-team-fight-battle

Battlefield laid the groundwork for destructible environments in first-person action games, but The Finals is a clean slate that doesn't have to retread the same exact format. Apparently, the focus on multiplayer gives this team the chance to leverage the processing power of servers, which would compensate for individual clients logging into battle. While Battlefield games are limited by modular structures, The Finals showcases a system where buildings can be carved and separated between distinct pieces.

Furthermore, Embark Studios' structural sandbox might even remind fans of forgotten franchises like Red Faction. These games all empower gamers with the ability to strategically dismantle maps, but The Finals' online setting also lends itself to objective-based gameplay. In the past, Battlefield developer DICE concentrated its efforts on "Levolution" - a feature that enabled game-changing destruction at a large scale. Here, the results are shaping up to be much less hollow, as collapsing buildings retain fragments of their original form while clearing new pathways toward enemies.

Rather than being completely vaporized by meteor impacts or explosions, The Finals has a game show style where the virtual stage is fractured and displaced as players rush to collect their winnings. The title is admittedly more lighthearted than its counterparts, but the controlled chaos of these tournaments seems intentionally fast-paced by comparison. If Embark can live up to its AAA pedigree, The Finals could deliver exciting combat that mirrors Battlefield 2042's most absurd moments.

What Players Can Expect From Embark Studios' The Finals

Embark Studios' The Finals screenshot of an explosion.

The Finals is targeting a multiplayer-only experience that appears snappy, explosive, and competitive. The ever-changing maps bring a unique spin that will likely be risky in practice, and it's fair to say that the game does distinguish itself by making destruction a major point of interactivity. Players can also expect a variety of character loadouts for different playstyles, something that is potentially inspired by Team Fortress 2's classes, and it is yet another way that the developer aims to innovate.

More recently, fans might be familiar with the specialists of Battlefield 2042 which came with unique tools for traversal, engineering, and subterfuge. There is an obvious lineage in these games' squad-based mechanics, which is expected given Embark's history working on the Battlefield series. Gamers will see similar equipment in play, including turrets and zip-lines, though one would hope that the studio carries the creativity of large battles forward in an original IP - combining skill-based shooting, synergy, and volatile arenas.

Embark Studios' closed beta period should prove whether most of its ambitions can get tuned or balanced properly before launch. So far, The Finals shows a lot of promise in pushing destruction technology into a new generation of FPS releases.

The Finals is being developed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: Battlefield 4 Player 'Snipes' Enemy Pilot Out of Helicopter With Ridiculous Shot