M60 Technical Upgrade
DEV DIARY | THE M60 GETS A GLOWUP
The M60 has been part of THE FINALS since the very start, since before Closed Alpha! In the last update, it received a full visual and technical overhaul to bring it up to our modern standards.
In this technical blog we’ll dive into how we revamped the weapon from the inside out, improving everything from its textures and materials to the way it supports new skins and upcoming features. The result? A cleaner, sharper, and more flexible M60 that’s futureproof and ready for whatever comes next.
Why do we do this? Because THE FINALS will continue to grow for many seasons and we’d like to make sure nothing gets left behind as the gameshow and our technology evolves.
Sharper, More Detailed Art
You’ll notice tighter details across the weapon, especially while viewing in first person. Surfaces now have better materials, improved metal wear, and higher-resolution geometry. We also refined how the gun looks during reloads and interactions, with more defined edges and interstices.
Realistic and clear details added, as showcased here in the ammo box, cartridges in the ammo belt, and the bolts:
With more pieces to work with, there is material definition, meaning different types of materials used across more parts of the gun, and improved geometry resolution on areas like the pistol grip.
We’ve increased fidelity of the inside of the top cover, providing a more realistic look during reloads.
The materials are different on these images and we’ve added a technical mask that allows us to fade between parts and materials, wear mask (the black and white texture that we use to define where the wear and tear will be) and increased definition and fidelity on the bipod, flash hider, and handguard, for example.
Smarter Texture Work
We’ve reworked how the weapon’s surfaces are mapped, allowing for more consistent patterns and higher texture quality without using more memory. It means smoother finishes, sharper engravings, and a more realistic look across the board, even when using lower resolution textures.
As you can see below in this image that showcases the grid on the top latch, it offers higher quality seams in a single UV set.
Dev note: A UV set “unfolds” a 3D model in 2D, allowing to map 2D textures and effects onto it
Breaking it down
The biggest upgrade to the M60 from its rework is its modularity. When we say modularity, we mean the number of parts that the weapon has been broken down into.
The old setup consisted of only 5 sections, including one making up most of the weapon, restricting which parts could be replaced or forcing us to replace it fully. Each color represents a single portion that needs to be made of the exact same material.
In the new setup, the weapon is made up of 12 separate sections, a much greater asset separation allowing us to switch out single parts more easily. This, in combination with the UV revamp and texture work above means a lot more versatility when it comes to creating new, exciting looks.
Built for the Future of THE FINALS
With these updates, we can easily swap or add components for future opportunities without disrupting existing designs. This work lays the foundation for every future M60 skin to look and perform at its best, and opens the door for even deeper customization down the line. And don’t worry, all previous looks still work perfectly.
It also looks cleaner and sharper in your hands.
While these changes don’t affect weapon balance, we wanted to give you a glimpse into how we think about creating new content for THE FINALS, and the kind of work that goes into evolving the base structure and design.
We’re in this for the long haul. That means continuing to evolve with technology, refining what’s already great, and making sure everything in THE FINALS keeps looking and feeling fresh. Expect more updates like this, from Smooth Destruction to map improvements and beyond.
SEE YOU IN THE ARENA!
