Embark Studios has officially paused its outbound esports efforts for The Finals, following concerns raised within the community about player conduct.
In a statement shared via Discord, the studio confirmed it had reviewed the situation carefully, including consulting external legal counsel. According to Embark, it is confident that its decisions and actions so far have been appropriate and within the scope of its responsibilities as both publisher and tournament organiser. Even so, the company says it is taking the matter seriously and believes a temporary pause is the responsible next step.
Embark Confirms Temporary Pause Of Outbound Esports Efforts
Embark’s statement acknowledged that discussions around its esports plans have intensified over recent days. While the developer did not detail the specific conduct concerns being raised, it made clear that the situation has prompted a broader internal review.
Image via The Finals Official Discord
“For the sake of our community, our players, our partners, and the long-term health of our game, we believe it is responsible to temporarily pause our current outbound esports efforts,” the studio said.
The wording is important here. The pause applies to outbound esports initiatives, meaning Embark’s direct efforts in organising and pushing forward official competitive plans are being halted while the review takes place.
No Specific Allegations Publicly Detailed
One notable aspect of the announcement is what it does not include. Embark did not disclose the exact nature of the conduct concerns or name any individuals involved. Instead, the focus of the message is on process and oversight.
The studio stressed that it had assessed the situation with external legal support and stands by the appropriateness of its prior actions. That framing suggests this is less about admitting fault and more about creating breathing room to reassess the competitive structure and governance framework around it.
At the time of writing, no timeline has been provided for when esports efforts will resume.
The 2025 Grand Major And Official Esports Expansion
The timing of this pause is significant. Embark Studios had recently expanded its involvement in official esports operations for The Finals, including the announcement of The 2025 Grand Major.
The event was positioned as the first official Finals tournament organised directly by Embark. It is scheduled to take place in Stockholm, Sweden, alongside DreamHack Stockholm 2025, and features a total prize pool of USD $100,000.
That move marked a shift from more community-driven competitive play to a structured, publisher-backed ecosystem. With that shift comes greater scrutiny, particularly around player conduct, competitive integrity, and governance standards.
Competitive Play Still Central To The Finals Vision
Despite the pause, Embark was clear that competitive play remains a core part of its long-term plans for The Finals. The statement describes this moment as an opportunity to “evaluate and review the system in its entirety” and determine the best way forward.
The Finals itself has built a reputation as a fast-paced, free-to-play first-person shooter centred on team-based combat in fully destructible arenas. Its emphasis on dynamic environments, where entire buildings can collapse mid-match, has made it stand out in an already crowded FPS market.
A stable, credible esports ecosystem has always been seen as a natural extension of that design philosophy. However, as this latest development shows, scaling up into official publisher-led competition also brings new responsibilities.
What Happens Next For The Finals Esports Scene
Right now, the key unknown is duration. Without a defined timeline, teams, players, and partners will be watching closely for further updates.
If anything, this signals that Embark is willing to slow down rather than push forward under a cloud of uncertainty. For a young competitive ecosystem still finding its footing, that could prove to be a pivotal moment in shaping how The Finals esports evolves from here.