The primary goal for The Finals optimization is Visibility through Destruction. The default settings use heavy “Volumetric Fog” and high-density debris that lingers in the air after an explosion. By adjusting the hidden scalability groups, we can make the dust settle faster and prevent the “Lumen” lighting system from blinding you when a roof is blown off.
Hardware Compatibility & Expectations
- Unreal Engine 5 (UE5): The Finals is one of the most advanced UE5 titles. It uses Lumen for lighting, which is extremely heavy on GPUs without hardware ray tracing.
- CPU Physics Bound: While destruction is calculated on the server, your CPU still handles the “cosmetic” rubble. A high Mesh Quality will hit your CPU hard during building collapses.
- DLSS/FSR/XeSS: You should always use an upscaler in this game. This config focuses on making that upscaled image as sharp as possible.
Backup and Preparation
- Completely exit The Finals.
- Navigate to your local AppData directory (path below).
- Copy GameUserSettings.ini and save a backup as
GameUserSettings.ini.bak. - Open the original with Notepad++.
File Location
The configuration file is located in the Discovery settings folder: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Discovery\Saved\Config\WindowsClient\GameUserSettings.ini
Best GameUserSettings.ini for Destructible Environments
Find the [ScalabilityGroups] section and update the values as follows. These settings are tuned to strip away visual “noise” while keeping the game’s competitive integrity:
[ScalabilityGroups]
sg.ResolutionQuality=100
sg.ViewDistanceQuality=2 ; High enough to see enemies, low enough to cull distant clutter
sg.AntiAliasingQuality=0 ; Removes the forced TAA blur
sg.ShadowQuality=0 ; Static shadows are better for spotting moving silhouettes
sg.PostProcessQuality=0 ; Disables motion blur and depth of field at the engine level
sg.TextureQuality=2 ; Medium/High balance to keep character models crisp
sg.EffectsQuality=0 ; THE MOST IMPORTANT: Reduces smoke/debris density
sg.FoliageQuality=0
sg.ShadingQuality=0
sg.GlobalIlluminationQuality=0 ; Sets Lumen to its lowest, most transparent state
sg.ReflectionQuality=0Pro Tip: Setting
sg.EffectsQualityto 0 is the secret to winning fights in a collapsing building. It significantly reduces the amount of lingering “plaster dust” and “concrete smoke,” allowing you to see enemy nameplates through the rubble much earlier than your opponents.
Key Parameters Explained
| Parameter | Recommended Value | Impact |
| sg.EffectsQuality | 0 | Drastically thins out the smoke and dust clouds from explosions. |
| sg.GlobalIlluminationQuality | 0 | Simplifies Lumen lighting, preventing sudden “blinding” light shifts during destruction. |
| sg.ShadowQuality | 0 | Removes soft shadows that can hide enemies in dark corners or under rubble. |
| sg.AntiAliasingQuality | 0 | Fixes the “ghosting” effect behind moving lights and falling debris. |
In-Game Optimization (NVIDIA/AMD Settings)
To complement your .ini edits, adjust these in the Settings > Video menu:
- NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency: Set to On + Boost. This is vital for maintaining aim precision while the world is literally falling apart around you.
- Ray Tracing (Static/Dynamic): Set to Static. Dynamic ray tracing recalibrates every time a wall breaks, causing massive frame-time spikes.
- Field of View (FOV): Set to 100. The verticality of The Finals means you need to see the ceiling and floor simultaneously.
Troubleshooting & Common Fixes
- Stuttering on Explosion: If your game hitches when a building collapses, set
sg.TextureQualityto 1 (Low). This frees up VRAM for the complex mesh data of the rubble. - Image is Too Sharp/Grainy: If the AA-off look is too sharp, use the in-game DLSS/FSR Sharpness slider and set it to 30-40%.
- Settings Resetting: The Finals’ launcher (Discovery) frequently overwrites files. After saving, right-click GameUserSettings.ini > Properties > Check Read-only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does turning off “Global Illumination” give an advantage?
Yes. High-quality GI (Lumen) makes shadows very dark and realistic. In a competitive shooter, you want “flatter” lighting so that enemies stand out against the background, regardless of whether they are in a sunlit room or a dark basement.
Why set “Foliage Quality” to 0 in an urban game?
Maps like Skyway Stadium have significant greenery. Setting this to 0 ensures that bushes don’t block your line of sight when you are crouched or hiding behind low cover.
Is “Resolution Quality” 100 necessary?
If you use DLSS/FSR, that upscaler will handle the resolution. Keeping the .ini at 100 ensures the engine doesn’t try to “double-scale,” which leads to a massive loss in visual clarity.
Conclusion and Expected Results
By manually refining your GameUserSettings.ini, you are stripping away the “visual chaos” that The Finals uses for immersion. You can expect a significant increase in visibility during building collapses, stable 144+ FPS during heavy combat, and the total removal of the “dust screen” that often follows a C4 explosion.