The Finals Season 9: Dragon Rising arrives December 10, 2025, bringing Eastern-inspired destruction to the tournament with the massive new Fangwei City arena and the tactical Point Break 8v8 mode. After the thrilling Grand Major 2025 tournament, Embark Studios is ready to shake up the meta with player-requested improvements and spectacular new content running until March 18, 2026.
Table of Contents
The Finals Season 9 Essential Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | December 10, 2025 |
| Start Time | 8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET |
| End Date | March 18, 2026 |
| Theme | Dragon Rising (Eastern Culture) |
| New Map | Fangwei City |
| New Mode | Point Break (8v8 Attack/Defend) |
| Sponsors | VOLPE, OSPUZE (flexible switching) |
| Battle Pass | Free, Premium (1,150), Ultimate ($29.99) |
Global Launch Times Breakdown
Season 9 deploys simultaneously worldwide at 8:00 AM Pacific Time on December 10. Expect approximately one hour of server downtime before the update completes.
Regional Start Times:
- Pacific Time (PT): 8:00 AM
- Eastern Time (ET): 11:00 AM
- Central European (CET): 5:00 PM
- UK (GMT): 4:00 PM
- India (IST): 9:30 PM
- Japan (JST): 1:00 AM (Dec 11)
- Australia (AEDT): 3:00 AM (Dec 11)
Monitor the official Finals social media channels for real-time server status updates during the deployment window.
For more gaming updates and esports coverage, visit Technosports.
Fangwei City: A Sprawling Chinese Megacity
The new arena combines ancient Chinese heritage with cutting-edge futuristic design. Fangwei City features:
- Vertical Complexity: Multi-story skyscrapers create tactical height advantages
- Diverse Districts: Rivers, temples, gardens, and dense urban blocks
- Clear Navigation: Distinct zones make orientation easier for newer players
- Strategic Depth: Tight flanking routes reward map knowledge
- Signature Destruction: Everything still crumbles spectacularly
This megacity provides varied combat scenarios—from rooftop sniping positions to close-quarters street battles, ensuring every match feels fresh. The Eastern aesthetic brings visual splendor while maintaining The Finals’ destructible playground philosophy.
Point Break: 8v8 Attack and Defend
The new core mode fundamentally changes The Finals’ gameplay dynamics. Point Break operates like Battlefield’s classic Rush mode:
Attackers (8 players):
- Must destroy three terminals in each sector
- Success pushes the front line forward to the next zone
- Time pressure demands aggressive coordination
Defenders (8 players):
- Protect terminals from destruction
- Hold positions to prevent front line advancement
- Can counter-attack to regain lost ground
This larger-scale mode emphasizes teamwork and objective focus over pure elimination, creating intense pushes and desperate last stands. The 8v8 format doubles the chaos while requiring tactical thinking—spray-and-pray won’t cut it when sixteen contestants clash over critical objectives.
Unified Progression Revolution
Season 9’s most significant improvement addresses player feedback about progression feeling restrictive:
World Tour Progress Everywhere: Now ALL modes—casual, ranked, limited-time events—contribute to World Tour advancement. Play how you want without sacrificing progression.
Flexible Sponsor Switching: Previously locked to seasonal sponsors, you can now change sponsors anytime during your World Tour journey. Experiment freely without commitment anxiety.
Reward Coins System: Instead of fixed unlocks, earn Reward Coins to purchase desired cosmetics directly. No more grinding for items you don’t want—buy what you love.
Fair RS Ranking: Individual performance matters more than just wins. Carry your team and get rewarded accordingly, making ranked play less frustrating for skilled solo players.
Dragon Rising Battle Pass
Three tiers cater to different commitment levels:
FREE Track (~28 items): Includes 375 Reward Coins and Dragon Rising-themed cosmetics accessible to everyone.
PREMIUM (1,150 cost, ~106 items): Unlocks 1,575 total Reward Coins plus exclusive skins, emotes, and finishers celebrating Eastern aesthetics.
ULTIMATE ($29.99, ~118 items): Maximum value with 2,575 Reward Coins and the complete collection of premium Dragon Rising cosmetics.
The themed content features dragon motifs, traditional patterns reimagined for futuristic warriors, and celebration effects that honor Chinese cultural heritage.
System Improvements and Balance
Beyond content additions, Season 9 includes quality-of-life enhancements:
- Improved UI: Clearer information hierarchy
- Faster Loading: Reduced wait times between matches
- Enhanced Destruction: More responsive environmental interaction
- Better Matchmaking: More balanced team compositions
- Performance Optimization: Smoother gameplay across platforms
These behind-the-scenes improvements demonstrate Embark’s commitment to refining The Finals’ foundation while adding flashy new features.
For official game updates and patch notes, check The Finals official website.
Why Season 9 Matters
Dragon Rising represents The Finals’ evolution from pure arcade mayhem to a more strategic experience without sacrificing its destructive soul. The Point Break mode tests coordination and tactics, the flexible progression respects player time and preferences, and the Eastern theme showcases cultural appreciation through spectacular visual design.
For veterans, the ranking improvements and new competitive mode provide fresh challenges. For newcomers, clearer map design and unified progression make entry less intimidating. Everyone wins—except maybe the buildings in Fangwei City.
Three Months of Destruction
Running until March 18, 2026, Season 9 provides ample time to master Point Break strategies, explore every corner of Fangwei City, and earn Dragon Rising cosmetics at your own pace.
The extended season format ensures you’re never rushed, especially with the new flexible progression system making every match count toward your goals. Whether you grind daily or play casually weekends only, you’ll make meaningful progress.
FAQs
When does The Finals Season 9 start?
The Finals Season 9: Dragon Rising launches December 10, 2025, at 8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET / 5:00 PM CET. The season runs until March 18, 2026, following the standard three-month competitive cycle. Expect approximately one hour of server downtime during update deployment. All platforms (PC, PlayStation, Xbox) receive the update simultaneously.
What is Point Break mode in The Finals Season 9?
Point Break is a new 8v8 attack-versus-defend mode inspired by Battlefield’s Rush. Two teams of eight players compete—attackers must destroy three terminals in each sector to advance the front line, while defenders protect objectives to prevent progression. Success requires teamwork and objective focus, making it more tactical than standard elimination modes. Point Break joins Quick Cash, Bank It, and Power Shift as a core game mode.
