CNS

CNS is a mysterious hacking collective with the goal of destabilizing THE FINALS. They are responsible for cyberattacks against the gameshow and in-game companies. They encourage viewers to "seek the truth beyond the walls," though their exact motivations are unclear.

Story

At some point in time, CNS began disrupting and hijacking official broadcasts of THE FINALS. These are demonstrated via official trailers from Embark Studios featuring broadcast interruptions accompanied by text such as: "THIS BROADCAST HAS BEEN HACKED BY CNS. [ SEEK THE TRUTH BEYOND THE WALLS !]" and "[ ONE NIGHT, THREE DAWNS. SEE THE SIGNS ]."

In late Season 1, CNS ramped up their presence, and Glitch Clusters began appearing in the virtual Arenas of the gameshow. Ahead of Season 2, a user named 4RCU5 began leaking new content and confidential MultiCo documents, alongside cryptic messages, via the real-world r/cns subreddit. CNS then performed a major attack in the new season, successfully breaking into the gameshow and promising to "change the game" by introducing several pieces of content, including new contestant equipment, the hacked arena SYS$HORIZON, and later the Gamemode Terminal Attack. CNS's break in was facilitated by an oversight, vulnerability, or backdoor in VOLPE's technology.

In response, (presumed) owner of the gameshow MultiCo enlisted cybersecurity company VAIIYA to contain and remove CNS's presence. VAIIYA insisted on rebooting and resetting the AI controlling THE FINALS, which caused it to go into a lockdown mode, transporting the show to 16th century feudal Japan then leading into Season 3.

Ahead of Season 4, MultiCo sent representative Marcel (nicknamed "Merciless Marcel") to speak to the sponsors and take some of CNS's changes "out of the spotlight."

Nothing was heard from CNS until late Season 5, when they made their presence inside the gameshow known again by disrupting the Arenas.

CNS then returned for a larger-scale intrusion in Season 7, putting themselves in the spotlight by stealing marketing assets from the scheduled sponsor HYDRA-Q, and thereby taking its place as the season’s Sponsor. This attack was made possible thanks to MultiCo, for reasons that yet remain unknown.

Other Information

Messages from CNS have appeared in several trailers, renders, and other official content.

Monaco

In Monaco, the message "S Lies" is written on a hidden wall underneath the construction site, likely having been placed by CNS at an early stage of their infiltration. Commentator June later states: "the writing's on the wall, literally" when commenting on CNS's disruptions at the time.

HOLTOW Website Hack

On February 3, 2024, after Hotfix 1.6.1, HOLTOW's Website was updated. Originally it displayed a red blinking dot, but then was hacked to display a hacked version of the site featuring glitchy text and static. It contained a message from CNS, confirming their involvement. As of now the holtow website is back to normal.

Three Frogs Vignette

After the 7.10.0 store update, a new lore vignette was shown upon starting the game. In the video a member of CNS recites a poem about three frogs, accompanied by news stories about three sponsors of THE FINALS: OSPUZE, DISSUN, and VAIIYA. Below is a transcript of the speech alongside a transcripts of the articles.

Three perfect frogs sitting by a pond, when the world whispered so soft from beyond.

OSPUZE SHORTAGE SPARKS REGIONAL UNREST

Distribution lapse across Gridline 9 triggered widespread motor disruption and behavioral instability.

Local feeds report riots, sleep collapse, and skin detachment symptoms.

OSPUZE Systems cites "shipment rerouting".

One tasted shimmer in a glittering fly, but the hunger stayed aloud. She never knew why.

FORMER DISSUN ZONES DECLASSIFIED AS UNINHABITED

Six previously active production sectors have been removed from operational maps.

All associated personnel files have been scrubbed.

FUEL TECHNICIANS MISSING AT DISSUN FACILITY IN SECTOR 131

Five biogenic fuel technicians failed to return following routine filter inspection.

This marks the third incident of its kind reported this quarter.

One rode the current, fast and revered, but the water was thick with the frogs he once cheered.

CONTESTANT MISSING AFTER GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM

Speculation on THE FINALS contestant's disappearance has led many to believe the contestant suffered from an 'emotional drift' following a facial chip calibration failure at VAIIYA's headquarters.

VAIIYA's representatives issued a 6-day cooldown and assured that the contestant 'will recuperate all' facial mobility and cognitive capabilities soon.

Once they'd neared shore, thought it was by choice. She leapt on command, her croak without voice.
Three perfect frogs by the pond once more. Not leaping. Not croaking. Not like before. But the wild still remembers, and so does the stream. Their croak isn't lost, just caught in a dream.
We give you the truth. Fly free. Rise above. No curtains, no constructs.
From CNS, with love.

Image Metadata

Some official renders and artwork posted by Embark contain messages in their metadata relating to CNS.

Image Name	Metadata Message
THE_FINALS_Wallpaper_Ingame_Heavy_Yellow_2880x1620	Hope y}u are d%i€g... DON’T TRUST THEM? - KN ...$reat, h\ve a nice day.! From Embark with love.!
THE_FINALS_Wallpaper_Iseult_Chill_2880x1620	Hi there de(r EE-'u€t=&^ This message has been compromised
A_Space_Friend	Hi there dear EE-Hunters.! Hope you a934å¨”/ÄI=Y#RI? THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED *
THE_FINALS_Namabatama	Hi th "#¤/0/! THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED
IMG_CDIV	&/¤”#(? C&/¤N)&S/#!
THE_FINALS_NAMALAPIS	CNS DONT TRUS0( THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED *
THE_FINALS_CB2_Guns_and_Namas	OPEN YOUR EYES ...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...CNS - SLIES...
THE_FINALS_SHHH	. . . CNS ¤ -% OYE ! ¤ CNS -% OYE ¤ *! CNS% -! OYE
THE_FINALS_NeverOddOrEven	Taking back what is ours ///CNS ###...###...###...

Image Name

Metadata Message

THE_FINALS_POWERIS_POWERIS_POWERIS_wallpaper

FROM EMBARK WI¤C”=[\N¤)S.!
FROM EMBARK WI¤C”=[\N¤)S.!

THE_FINALS_ISEUL-T_wallpaper

PERMSSN     UID GID    PACKED    SIZE  RATIO        CRC        STAMP          NAME 
---------- ----------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- ------------ -------------
[generic]                 1911    3836  49.8% -lhX- 0d2G  MAR 17 2076 Vpatch_MDOSVAIiYA_?txt 
[generic]                  218     341  63.9% -lhX- 0d2G  MAR 17 2076 Vpatch_MDOSVAIiYA_?txt 
---------- ----------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- ------------ -------------
Total          2 files    2129    4177  51.0%             JAN 25 2025 


 ......________________..___.____________..________________. 
 ...//[CNS]           //   /            //                / 
 ..//                //   /            //           _____/ 
 ./           _ ____/                 /____ _           / 
 .\______________/  \___//___________/ \______________/ 
 ..............:....a.c.c.e.p.t..n.o..l.i.e.s....:...

Trailers

During the Closed Beta 2 trailer, a broadcast interruption occurs, and the following text appears on screen:

GOOD EVENING !
THIS BROADCAST HAS BEEN HACKED BY CNS
[ SEEK THE TRUTH
BEYOND THE WALLS !]

A second message appeared in the Season 1 trailer:

GOOD EVENING !
THIS BROADCAST HAS BEEN HACKED BY CNS
[ ONE NIGHT, THREE DAWNS
SEE THE SIGNS ]

The first message from CNS in the trailer for CB2
The second message from CNS in the Season 1 trailer

Theories & Speculation

Easter Egg hunter fishxw theorized that CNS may refer to a central nervous system of sorts. This was confirmed by Rob Runesson, CCO of Embark Studios and creator of THE FINALS Easter Egg Hunt.

Related Cosmetics

Cosmetics that feature or mention CNS.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
FINAL HACKTIVIST	MYTHIC	OUTFIT	Unauthorized access never looked this sharp.
ARIAD, CNS	LEGENDARY	OUTFIT	Step into the shoes of CNS and manipulate your environment with full CNS flair, leaving your mark in the cyber world.
KUROBYTE	LEGENDARY	OUTFIT	Doesn't load properly. But eliminates perfectly.
NEUROCALYPSE SPIKE	LEGENDARY	OUTFIT	When the end approached, you uploaded yourself to survive.
TREBLE BREAKER	LEGENDARY	OUTFIT	The volume was never the problem. You were.
OFF THE GRID	EPIC	OUTFIT	The uniform of the untraceable.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
SKIMMERJACKER	LEGENDARY	HEADWEAR	Intercept signals, rewrite vibes.
SPECTRAL INTRUDERS	LEGENDARY	FACEWEAR	Filters out corporate spin, reveals hidden intentions.
PINGJAMMER	EPIC	FACEWEAR	If they can't track you, they can't counter you.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
BASSLOOP HOODIE	LEGENDARY	UPPER BODY	Layered for maximum drop.
CNS CODE BREAKER	LEGENDARY	UPPER BODY	Tailored by CNS, with love.
CNS SCRIPT-SHIRT	LEGENDARY	UPPER BODY	For contestants who plan to flip the script.
HACKPLATE	LEGENDARY	UPPER BODY	Protects your core. Corrupts theirs.
PACKET PULSE SHELL	LEGENDARY	UPPER BODY	Broadcast-ready at all times.
ROOTLAYER SHROUD	LEGENDARY	UPPER BODY	For contestants who don’t knock. They breach.
CNS TEE	EPIC	UPPER BODY	A virtual copy for the arena to match your clothing in the meatspace.
HIDDEN UPDATE	EPIC	UPPER BODY	New layer, new rules.
BROADCAST BOMBER	RARE	UPPER BODY	Engineered for sabotage, lined for comfort.
SIGNAL STACK TEE	RARE	UPPER BODY	We're still here.
CNS SYNC SLACKS	LEGENDARY	LOWER BODY	Tailored by CNS, with love.
LATENCY-LOCK PANTS	EPIC	LOWER BODY	No delay. No drift. Just pure flow from vault to victory.
ROOTLAYER PANTS	EPIC	LOWER BODY	Structured for perfect coverage and calculated aggression.
SOFT BOOT PANTS	EPIC	LOWER BODY	System restart with every stride.
CIPHERSTRIKE PANTS	RARE	LOWER BODY	Perfect attire for leaping firewalls and dodging corporate detection.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
BOOTJACK GLOVES	RARE	HANDS	Get your hands dirty with digital truth.
GHOSTTOUCHERS	RARE	HANDS	Leave no prints, trigger no alerts.
OVERRIDE STOMPERS	EPIC	FEET	Built for kicking down firewalls and trampling corporate narratives.
PINGSTEPPERS	EPIC	FEET	Trust your footing. Deny theirs.
DECIBELLE SNEAKS	RARE	FEET	Built for stealth, tuned for feedback.

Icon	Name	Rarity	Type	Description
	CNS SYNC SLING	LEGENDARY	UPPER BACK	Tailored by CNS, with love.
	PAYLOAD NULL	RARE	LOWER BACK	For missions that never happened.

Icon	Name	Rarity	Type	Description
	TEMPUS ERRATUM	LEGENDARY	WATCH	A marvel of malfunction, so glitched you'll be running late, early, and on time simultaneously.

Icon	Name	Rarity	Type	Description
	CNS SYNC STRAP	LEGENDARY	WRIST	Tailored by CNS, with love.

Icon	Name	Rarity	Type	Description
	ARIAD	LEGENDARY	FACE	Step into the shoes of CNS and manipulate your environment with full CNS flair, leaving your mark in the cyber world.
	HAIR	RARE	HAIR	Because victory looks better with the right cut.

Icon	Name	Rarity	Type	Description
	CNS ANTI-RECOGNITION	RARE	FACE PAINT	They may not recognize your face, but your solid gameplay might give you away.

Icon	Name	Rarity	Type	Description
	GIMME FIVE	LEGENDARY	EMOTE	For contestants who would never leave someone hangin'.
	UNAUTHORIZED LOGIN	EPIC	EMOTE	Credentials? Please. CNS never asks twice.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
CNS DISRUPTION	LEGENDARY	SPRAY	Mark the spot where you changed your opponents' game.
CNS BULLETIN	EPIC	SPRAY	From CNS, with love.
TRUTH DISRUPTED	EPIC	SPRAY	Behind every glitch lies revelation.

Name	Rarity	Source	Description
CNS COMMUNIQUÉ	RARE	S2 BP LEVEL 94	We are CNS.
MEMORY LEAK	RARE	S7 BP LEVEL 59	Chill like it's the end of the world.
TERMINAL AWAKENING	RARE	S7 Event	The system isn't ready. You are.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
HOLO ON IMPACT	LEGENDARY	SKIN // FAMAS	Highlighted for performance. Glitched for resistance.
RETRO-GLITCHED GUN	LEGENDARY	SKIN // ShAK-50	Hits like the '80s, glitches like the future.
HOLO-VERIFIED HEATER	EPIC	SKIN // V9S	For those who color inside no lines and shoot in full-spectrum defiance.
HOLO-VERIFIED HEATER	EPIC	SKIN // CB-01 Repeater	For those who color inside no lines and shoot in full-spectrum defiance.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // Model 1887	Plan to shine brightly and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // M26 Matter	Plan to shine brightly and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // AKM	A skin for contestants who plan to shine brightly and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // Cerberus 12GA	Plan to shine brightly a and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // LH1	Plan to shine brightly a and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // Spear	Plan to shine brightly a and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // Flamethrower	Plan to shine brightly a and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // 93R	Plan to shine brightly a and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // FCAR	Plan to shine brightly a and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // Pike-556	Plan to shine brightly and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // ARN-220	Plan to shine brightly and continuously, far and wide.
KINETIC FLARE	EPIC	SKIN // Lewis Gun	Plan to shine brightly and continuously, far and wide.
VAPORWAVE UPRISER	EPIC	SKIN // CB-01 Repeater	Dreamlike destruction on demand.
VAPORWAVE UPRISER	EPIC	SKIN // M11	Dreamlike destruction on demand.
VAPORWAVE UPRISER	EPIC	SKIN // M134 Minigun	Dreamlike destruction on demand.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
HOLO-VERIFIED HEATER	EPIC	SKIN // Anti-Gravity Cube	For those who color inside no lines and shoot in full-spectrum defiance.
VAPORWAVE UPRISER	EPIC	SKIN // Barricade	Dreamlike destruction on demand.
VAPORWAVE UPRISER	EPIC	SKIN // H+ Infuser	Dreamlike destruction on demand.
VAPORWAVE UPRISER	EPIC	SKIN // Breach Drill	Dreamlike destruction on demand.
VAPORWAVE UPRISER	EPIC	SKIN // Healing Emitter	Dreamlike destruction on demand.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
CORE MOTTO	EPIC	STICKER	Seek the truth. Use it to win.
EN/LIGHT/ED	EPIC	STICKER	You saw the signal. You followed the glitch. Welcome to the real upload.
SIGNAL CLAIMED	EPIC	STICKER	Your presence has been logged.
CNS TAG	RARE	STICKER	The writing's on the wall. Literally.
MICRO MEMORY	RARE	STICKER	Every new match is an opportunity to show off your magnetic personality and write over history.
PAYLOAD VISUALIZER	LEGENDARY	CHARM	If you're seeing this, you're already compromised.
VECTOR COLLECTOR	LEGENDARY	CHARM	For contestants who are known to employ a triangulation attack in the arena.
PHASEFAULT	EPIC	CHARM	Wobbling between versions. Somewhere, you exist.
HACK TAG	RARE	CHARM	Some contestants grind. Others infiltrate.

Icon	Name	Rarity	Type	Description
	CHROMA PLATE	RARE	SCREEN // Multi-Device	A screen tuned to frequencies the Arena would rather you ignore.
	CHROMA PAD	LEGENDARY	SKIN // Multi-Device	A skin for Contestants to plan to shine brightly and continuosly, far and wide.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
BROADCAST_INTERCEPT	EPIC	BACKGROUND	This isn't the noise. It's the signal. And you're finally listening.
BLOOM UPLINK	RARE	BACKGROUND	Not listed. Not tracked. Brought to you by a ghost signal.
BOOTLEG UPLINK	RARE	BACKGROUND	Waiting on connection... or corruption.
SIGNAL SLICE	RARE	BACKGROUND	Broadcast authority, pixel by pixel.

Icon	Name	Rarity	Type	Description
	CNS INDENT MARK	RARE	BORDER	No filters. No corrections. Just truth.

Name	Rarity	Type	Description
HACKTIVIST HEART	COMMON	BADGE	Be the glitch in their code and the beat they can't debug.
HACKTIVIST HEART	COMMON	BADGE	Be the glitch in their code and the beat they can't debug.
HACKTIVIST HEART	COMMON	BADGE	Be the glitch in their code and the beat they can't debug.

Gallery

Cover of the Season 2 original soundtrack
CNS took over official THE FINALS social media accounts leading into Season 2
CNS avatar
CNS Banner
the .nfo file after the takeover of CNS in season 5
CNS sponsor logo