Players of The Finals will soon face a significant shift in how the game handles cheating. Embark Studios is introducing a new in-house anti-cheat system named Elytra to replace its current third-party protections. This development indicates a shift toward increased developer oversight of security and player experience. The update seeks to decrease dependence on third-party vendors and enhance detection capabilities.
Embark Studios begins passive monitoring with new Elytra system
The new system arrives with The Finals update 11.3.0, which marks the beginning of a phased testing period. Elytra currently operates in a passive state, meaning it monitors activity without actively banning players. This phased approach enables the studio to collect data prior to implementing stricter enforcement. The Finals currently uses a complex stack including Easy Anti-Cheat, Denuvo Anti-Cheat, and Anybrain AI for behavioral monitoring.
Testing involves a small group of selected players alongside technology partners like GeForce Now and Microsoft. The initial rollout phase allows for verification of system integration with existing infrastructure. Embark has confirmed that Elytra will likely replace the existing Denuvo anti-cheat system in the final architecture. The studio is using The Finals as a testbed to refine Elytra before broader implementation.
A broader rollout of Elytra is scheduled for The Finals update 11.6, which will introduce the system to a wider audience. The staged rollout permits adjustments based on performance metrics and player feedback. Embark typically uses The Finals to test anti-cheat strategies before applying them to Arc Raiders. Future updates are expected to feature a more unified security approach.
The introduction of Elytra marks a strategic change for Embark Studios in managing game integrity. The studio aims to replace third-party solutions with a tailored in-house system. This initiative supports the studio's objective of maintaining control over player experience across its titles. The Finals update 11.6 will mark the next major step in this security overhaul.
Source: TweakTown
