THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:59, 25 February 2025

THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt (TFEE) is a long form Easter egg hunt ongoing since September 2022. It spans multiple levels and covers both external and in-game elements. The hunt is led by Embark Studios' Chief Content Officer and Co-founder, Robert Runesson, and assisted by Dusty Gustafsson, Embark's CX Lead.

The hunt began in September 2022, when a series of cryptic Easter egg clues started appearing in concept art released via the official THE FINALS Twitter account, and later the official THE FINALS Discord server. This initial puzzle became known as Level 1 - The Commence, and was followed by Level 2 - The Promise and Level 3 - The Hunt. Clues are usually presented via official artwork and renders, in-game Easter eggs, and messages from Rob and Dusty. The hunt itself operates via the official THE FINALS website, with several hidden pages containing clues, images, and password inputs.

Reminder

Remember to follow the rules and practice good hunting etiquette!

Overview

The first level of THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt. Started in September 2022, and ended in October 2022.

The second level of THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt. Started in October 2022, and ended in March 2024.

The third and current level of THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt. Started in April / August 2024.

Diamond Clues tie into the ultimate solution to THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt.

Guidance

Rules & Etiquette

Trying to brute force or break your way into password-protected webpages is not allowed as it can completely ruin the hunt for everyone involved.
Using AI programs such as ChatGPT to decode content or figure out connections, passwords, etc, is not allowed as it can similarly spoil the hunt.
The hunt is not about trying to bypass website or game security. All clues and Easter eggs are accessible by normal means. Do not share datamined content or try to exploit the game or Embark Studios' websites in any way.
The hunt does not require the use of glitches / exploits / out-of-bounds exploration. In-game Easter eggs may be difficult to find, but they do not require breaking the game.
Hunt-related pages can be found via clues. Do not try to discover hidden pages / URLs on Embark Studios' websites by exploitative or unintended means.
The metadata of images does not contain intentional clues, and so does not need to be accessed; Photoshop file history, layer names, etc.

If you're unsure about whether you might be close to breaking a rule, just ask!

Rob's Helpful Hints

'"Hi.! You are correct… Only look for clues in assets that we release in our channels where we can control naming, compression etc… don’t want you to fall down the wrong rabbit holes… ._."
"No we will never trick you (and you are too clever to be tricked). But it shouldn't be easy to solve puzzles like this... ._.
"Hi.! All passwords are lowercase… ._."
"Was going to comment on the discussion about 'password vs passcode'... I remember that discussion back on the Amiga BBS-era... so as long as it is in ASCII, it is a password, regardless if it is letters or numbers... ._. (but all passWORDS are lowercase regardless if it is letters, numbers or any other characters in the ASCII-table, hehe)"
"Hi.! Yes you CAN solve every EE (and level) with the first image, but, it’s hard… but the answer is there.! For every new image (or dusty text, hehe) we give you it becomes easier, and easier, and easier to solve each level… BTW you were actually really close already with the first image, I first thought TIER 1B was way too easy since you kind of mentioned the actual password (or is it a passcode @Giriko .?!) buuut then for some reason it went south… ._."
"Short answer is 'No, the images released during one level/tier are used to solve that level/tier'. However that said, there might be (and often are) clues and hints that potentially can (or will) be very useful (or obvious when you see the full picture in the end (or is it really the end, or perhaps just a new beginning))..."
"Everything is connected, but it's not THAT obvious... ._."
"Great puzzles need to be deep and complex to be fun and challenging, for this little EE-hunt there are always at least 4-5 connections between different clues on each level and often also multiple connections between both tiers and levels. That way the web becomes an intricate aventure, a beautiful painting and a puzzle that is much more satisfying to solve... after all don't we all want to honor Archimedes.?1"
"No, I’m only use standard ASCII, actually to keep the password very easy to figure out, I’ve made sure to only use lower case letters and numbers, for this level [Level Two] that is… ._."
"No spaces in psw in this ee-hunt… ._."

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Overview ==
+'''THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt''' (TFEE) is a long form [[Easter Eggs|Easter egg]] hunt ongoing since September 2022. It spans multiple levels and covers both external and in-game elements. The hunt is led by Embark Studios' Chief Content Officer and Co-founder, Robert Runesson, and assisted by Dusty Gustafsson, Embark's CX Lead.
-In early September 2022, after the Gamescom teaser trailer for THE FINALS was released (late August 2022), a series of related cryptic Easter egg clues started to be presented through concept art released via [https://twitter.com/reachthefinals THE FINALS Twitter account]. Several additional clues to help the community solve the puzzles were also posted exclusively on THE FINALS Discord. The initial Easter eggs (which, following it being solved, became known as Level 1 or 'The Geocache Easter Egg') indirectly prompted members of the community to add specific words to THE FINALS website URL, as a suffix, which was a way of providing answers to the puzzle to see if they were correct. From Level 2 of the Easter Eggs ('The Promise') onwards, prospective answers were input as passwords via a specific [https://www.reachthefinals.com/tfee-level2 password page] created by the Embark Studios art team, led by Embark's Chief Content Officer and [https://www.embark-studios.com/about Co-founder], Rob Runesson.
-== Level 1 - 'The C0mmence' - A History Of Solving The Easter Egg ==
+The hunt began in September 2022, when a series of cryptic Easter egg clues started appearing in concept art released via the official [https://twitter.com/reachthefinals THE FINALS Twitter account], and later the official [https://discord.gg/thefinals THE FINALS Discord server]. This initial puzzle became known as Level 1 - The Commence, and was followed by Level 2 - The Promise and Level 3 - The Hunt. Clues are usually presented via official artwork and renders, in-game Easter eggs, and messages from Rob and Dusty. The hunt itself operates via the official [https://reachthefinals.com THE FINALS website], with several hidden pages containing clues, images, and password inputs.
-=== Overview ===
+{{User:Raid/Template:TempReminderTemplate
-This level debuted on Sept. 5, 2022 and was solved on Sept. 16, 2022; 11 days later. The overarching theme was Geocaching and all of the clues therein were related. For more information you can visit the master document section here:
+|header=Reminder
+|image=Namatama_(2).png
-=== Clues ===
+|text=Remember to [[#Rules_&_Etiquette|follow the rules]] and practice good hunting etiquette!}}
+== Overview ==
-# The source tweet, released Sep 5, 2022 consisted of concept art of a samurai, and hidden within the image was binary code laid out using two columns of pips to represent the 8 bytes of binary. Once translated 2 words were discovered: devon and crossing.
+{{InfoGridCards
-## If you attempted to visit a webpage on the official website [link] done by appending a forward slash to the beginning of the words (e.g /devoncrossing) the webpage would display a large, red X, indicating that this was not the correct webpage.
+|header1 = [[Level 1 - The Commence]]
-# Two images were uploaded to THE FINALS Discord server on Sep 8, 2022, and another on Sep 9, 2022 Using various Steganographic techniques two clues were found. The first image contained, among various bits of data, Galileo’s birthdate [Feb 15, 1564,] however, the numbers were unformatted and therefore not immediately interpretable. The second image uploaded, contained the number 8601, referencing the date/time standard ISO 8601. Using this standard the data was confirmed to be Galileo’s birthdate.
+|image1 = [[File:THE_FINALS_Concept_BarrelsBarrelsBarrels Cropped.png|link=Level 1 - The Commence]]
-# On Sep 13, 2022 An image was uploaded showing a modern depiction of a ninja jumping over a soldier while a collection of metal 58 gallon (approx.) barrels falling overtop of them. On one of the barrels pictured 002f is visible. This is unicode for the / character. This was another nudge that the correct answer would be a webpage on the main game website.
+|text1 = The first level of THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt. Started in September 2022, and ended in October 2022.
-# On Sep 15, 2022 an image showing Nama Tama, the Finals Mascot, holding a can of beans was uploaded. On the can of beans the text OG BEANS was prominently displayed. Soon after it was found that the first Geocache had a can of beans in it. Going to <nowiki>https://www.reachthefinals.com/geocache</nowiki> lead to a congratulatory image, and the end of the first level of TFEE.
-=== Summary ===
-The first clue, Devon Crossing, tied into the start of Letterboxing, a precursor to Geocaching. The first letterboxing site was in Devon, England.
-The second clue, Galileo, tied into the Galileo satellite system, launched in 2010 by the EU as an alternative for using American GPS systems. This tied into the overall theme of Geocaching with GPS.
-The third clue was confirming that the answer to this level would be a subpage to the main page.
-The fourth and final clue, the OG BEANS, was that the first modern geocache had a can of beans in it.
-In total this level took 11 days to solve.
-=== Credits ===
-'''Solver''' - Duh
-'''Documentation''' - Giriko, Flex4d, RockhoundBlack
-'''Various Contributions''' - ATAEGGYU, Darnoux, Dwarf, Madalin, Mike Eggmantraut, Oli, Sparky, Swa
-==== Further Reading ====
-RockhoundBlack's Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfC7lvXbPMM THE FINALS: The 'Geocache' Easter Egg!]
-[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CLzGtj2w2elVkqEdPV6NgqRiszNAxnwIANXHK-Pa1Bk/edit?usp=sharing Flex4d's Document]<gallery mode="slideshow" caption="Level One: The Commence Images">
-File:Dots and exclamation marks were used to produce a binary number that represents a forward slash.png|Dots and exclamation marks in the Tweet text that accompanied the first Easter Egg concept image were used to produce a binary number that represents a forward slash.
-File:THE FINALS Concept 002 Slash.jpg|This image, titled 'Slash,' was the first in a series of images that included hidden Easter Egg-style messages, which began the main series of pre-release Easter Eggs.
-File:Binary code representing the word "crossing" found in the Samurai image..png|Binary code representing the word "crossing" was found in the Samurai image.
-File:The Red Cross on the Devon Crossing page of THE FINALS website.png|The red cross on the Devon Crossing page of THE FINALS website when "devoncrossing" was added as a URL extension to the website address.
-File:Character statues wallpaper with the numbers shown where they were located..png|Character statues wallpaper with the numbers shown where they were located.
-File:BARRELLS.png|A concept art image that included a mysterious can of beans attached to the back of one of the characters.
-File:A rendered image of YamaTama holding the OG Can of Beans, so that it could be more easily seen by members of THE FINALS Discord community..jpg|A rendered image of THE FINALS mascot, Nama Tama, holding the OG Can of Beans so that it could be more easily seen by members of THE FINALS Discord community.
-File:THE FINALS website showing the successful completion of the "geocache" easter egg.png|THE FINALS website showing the successful completion of the "geocache" easter egg
-</gallery>
-== Level 2: 'The Promise' - A History Of Solving The Easter Egg ==
-== Tier 1A: The "1064 Aethusa" puzzle ==
-=== Overview ===
-Level Two: The Promise was originally teased on October 2nd with a fragment of a QR code and a loading page that the QR directed to; however, it didn't go live until October 4th when the [https://www.reachthefinals.com/tfee-level2 TFEE_Level2] site was updated.
-=== Clues ===
-On Oct 6, 2022 Dusty posted a new image titled, Oriri ex cinere, which depicted a man in iron working gear holding a revolver in a garage which is on fire. A couple minutes later Dusty posted another version of it. Comparing the two versions of it revealed a hidden Griffin, the Pisa Griffin specifically. The Pisa Griffin was placed at the Pisa Cathedral, which started construction in 1063, or 1064 in the Pisan calendar.
-On Oct 7, 2022 Dusty posted another image titled, TakeCover, which depicted the Cathedral in the map Monaco, getting obliterated by a meteor shower. The day afterwards a slightly larger version was posted to the Press Google Drive, presumably to make it easier to find the clues hidden within:
-* The greek letters Αἵ θου σα were found, these translate out to Aethusa
-* Aethusa flowers were present in the image.
-* The trident referencing Poseden’s daughter, Aethousa.
-On Oct 11, 2022 Rob posted a new image titled, friend_you_need_02, which depicted Nama Tama dressed as Galielo looking at an asteroid with a telescope. This led us to 1064 Aethusa, an asteroid in the inner asteroid belt. Putting 1064 into the T1A page unlocked a new image.
-=== Summary ===
-The first clue, the Pisa Griffin, pointed to the year 1064, which would be important to seeing the asteriod was relevant to the search.
-The second clue(s) all were about Aethousa and meteors, letting us know that Aethusa and Meteors might be relevant to the search.
-The third clue was the telescope looking at a asteriod, which lead us to 1064.
-==== Credits ====
-'''Solver''' - Serpenger
-'''Documentation'''  - Flex4d ,Ralliden, RockhoundBlack
-'''Various Contribution'''s - Buunuu, Darnoux, DashGames, Duh, Fishxw, Giriko, OrpheusHEI, SPEAR, Swa, Tragic
-Further Reading:
-RockhoundBlack's Video:  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg2GLDdzMEA THE FINALS: A Fistful Of Easter Eggs + New Concept Art!]
+|header2 = [[Level 2 - The Promise]]
+|image2 = [[File:THE_FINALS_Concept_005_Fire Cropped.png|link=Level 2 - The Promise]]
+|text2 = The second level of THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt. Started in October 2022, and ended in March 2024.
-[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CLzGtj2w2elVkqEdPV6NgqRiszNAxnwIANXHK-Pa1Bk/edit?usp=sharing Flex4d's Document]
+|header3 = [[Level 3 - The Hunt]]
+|image3 = [[File:THE_FINALS_I_Want_to.png|link=Level 3 - The Hunt]]
+|text3 = The third and current level of THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt. Started in April / August 2024.
-=== Tier 1B: The "79" puzzle ===
+}}{{InfoGridCards
+|header1 = [[Diamond Clues]] [[File:Burrw.gif|thumb|380px]]
+|text1 = Diamond Clues tie into the ultimate solution to THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt.
+}}
+== Guidance ==
+=== Rules & Etiquette ===
+# Trying to brute force or break your way into password-protected webpages is not allowed as it can completely ruin the hunt for everyone involved.
+# Using AI programs such as ChatGPT to decode content or figure out connections, passwords, etc, is not allowed as it can similarly spoil the hunt.
+# The hunt is not about trying to bypass website or game security. All clues and Easter eggs are accessible by normal means. Do not share datamined content or try to exploit the game or Embark Studios' websites in any way.
+# The hunt does not require the use of glitches / exploits / out-of-bounds exploration. In-game Easter eggs may be difficult to find, but they do not require breaking the game.
+# Hunt-related pages can be found via clues. Do not try to discover hidden pages / URLs on Embark Studios' websites by exploitative or unintended means.
+# The metadata of images does not contain intentional clues, and so does not need to be accessed; Photoshop file history, layer names, etc.
+If you're unsure about whether you might be close to breaking a rule, just ask!
-=== Tier 1A: The "Mendeleev" puzzle ===
+=== Rob's Helpful Hints ===
+# '"Hi.! You are correct… Only look for clues in assets that we release in our channels where we can control naming, compression etc… don’t want you to fall down the wrong rabbit holes… ._."
+# "No we will never trick you (and you are too clever to be tricked). But it shouldn't be easy to solve puzzles like this... ._.''
+# "Hi.! All passwords are lowercase… ._."
+# "Was going to comment on the discussion about 'password vs passcode'... I remember that discussion back on the Amiga BBS-era... so as long as it is in ASCII, it is a password, regardless if it is letters or numbers... ._. (but all passWORDS are lowercase regardless if it is letters, numbers or any other characters in the ASCII-table, hehe)"
+# "Hi.! Yes you CAN solve every EE (and level) with the first image, but, it’s hard… but the answer is there.! For every new image (or dusty text, hehe) we give you it becomes easier, and easier, and easier to solve each level… BTW you were actually really close already with the first image, I first thought TIER 1B was way too easy since you kind of mentioned the actual password (or is it a passcode @Giriko .?!) buuut then for some reason it went south… ._."
+# "Short answer is 'No, the images released during one level/tier are used to solve that level/tier'. However that said, there might be (and often are) clues and hints that potentially can (or will) be very useful (or obvious when you see the full picture in the end (or is it really the end, or perhaps just a new beginning))..."
+# "Everything is connected, but it's not THAT obvious... ._."
+# "Great puzzles need to be deep and complex to be fun and challenging, for this little EE-hunt there are always at least 4-5 connections between different clues on each level and often also multiple connections between both tiers and levels. That way the web becomes an intricate aventure, a beautiful painting and a puzzle that is much more satisfying to solve... after all don't we all want to honor Archimedes.?1"
+# "No, I’m only use standard ASCII, actually to keep the password very easy to figure out, I’ve made sure to only use lower case letters and numbers, for this level [Level Two] that is… ._."
+# "No spaces in psw in this ee-hunt… ._."