THE FINALS shotgun hit markers: How to Turn Them Off and Disable HUD Glow

THE FINALS shotgun hit markers can be switched off in Settings → Interface following Update 12.1.0, released on 29 October 2026. Embark Studios added the switch after players said the new pellet indicators sometimes got in the way during a fight. The same update also introduced a separate option to disable HUD glow.

If you like seeing where your shotgun pellets land, you can keep the markers turned on. They now disappear after 0.5 seconds instead of one second, so the feedback doesn’t linger as long. Both changes are optional and affect what you see on the screen, not the shotgun’s damage.

How to turn off THE FINALS shotgun hit markers

The new switch is part of the game’s Interface options. You don’t have to change crosshair settings or edit a weapon loadout to reach it. Check that THE FINALS is running Update 12.1.0 or later, then follow these steps:

1. Launch THE FINALS and open Settings.
2. Go to Interface.
3. Find the control for shotgun pellet hit markers.
4. Switch the option to Off.
5. Return to gameplay and fire a shotgun to check the visual feedback.

Embark confirms the Interface section and the On/Off option. It hasn’t provided an exact controller-button sequence or published the final wording of every menu label, so look for the shotgun pellet setting in the Interface section on your own version of the game.

What happens when you disable THE FINALS shotgun hit markers?

Season 12 introduced detailed hit feedback for shotguns. Instead of just showing a general hit, the new markers indicate how many pellets connected and where they landed. That’s handy if you’re checking how well a shot connected, especially when you’re adjusting to a shotgun’s spread.

In a close-range fight, though, several markers appearing over an opponent can make it harder to keep track of their movement. The THE FINALS shotgun hit markers switch removes that additional pellet display. Embark has described it as an Interface option, not a shotgun balance adjustment, so it doesn’t change the damage, pellet spread or hit registration of the weapon.

Leaving the option enabled still gives you the new half-second duration. You can therefore keep the extra information without the markers lingering for the full second they did when Season 12 first launched.

How to disable HUD glow in THE FINALS

Open Settings → Interface and look for the separate option to disable HUD glow. Switch it off if you’d prefer the interface without that illuminated effect. It is independent of the pellet-marker control, so you can turn off one and leave the other enabled.

HUD glow arrived with Season 12’s redesigned interface. The game also received other visual adjustments in Update 12.1.0, including improved menu contrast and fixes for the colour distortion and yellow artefact that could appear when taking damage. Those are separate patch changes, rather than additional steps for turning off glow.

Why were THE FINALS shotgun hit markers changed?

Embark added the pellet-by-pellet feedback at the start of Season 12 to make shotgun hits easier to read. The idea was to show players more clearly what happened when they fired. After release, some players found the effect too intrusive, particularly when the screen was already busy.

The response was straightforward: shorten the markers’ display time and add an off switch. That lets players choose between detailed pellet feedback and a cleaner view, while keeping the rest of Season 12’s HUD improvements. Our THE FINALS Season 12 guide covers the wider interface overhaul.

THE FINALS shotgun hit markers setting missing? Here’s what to check

If you can’t find the option, start by checking your installed version. The switch was added in Update 12.1.0, so an earlier build won’t have it. Once the update is installed, reopen Settings and look through Interface again. The HUD glow option should be in that section as well.

Embark announced the controls in the general PC and console patch notes but didn’t provide separate button-by-button directions for PlayStation, Xbox and PC. The important point is the Interface section, not a particular controller shortcut or tab position.

If you have the shotgun setting switched off but still see a flash when shooting, check what you’re looking at. The new option specifically controls shotgun pellet markers; it isn’t described as a switch for every hit notification or crosshair effect in the game. Compare the pellet feedback before and after changing it.

Should you leave THE FINALS shotgun hit markers on or off?

It comes down to what helps you see the fight. Leave the markers on if you use the pellet information to judge where shots are landing. Switch them off if that extra feedback makes it harder to follow another contestant at close range. You can change your mind later without changing your shotgun loadout.

For other changes introduced at the same time, including the Translocator range reduction and weapon balance adjustments, see our Update 12.1.0 guide. The THE FINALS shotgun hit markers toggle itself is simply an Interface preference you can adjust whenever you want.

Official source: THE FINALS Update 12.1.0 patch notes from Embark Studios.