# Netflix’s FIFA World Cup game studio has laid off 85% of its staff

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/netflixs-fifa-world-cup-game-studio-has-laid-off-85-of-its-staff/
- Published: 2026-08-04T09:33:04+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-04T10:06:53+00:00
- Original publisher: Polygon
- Original article: https://www.polygon.com/fifa-world-cup-netflix-game-refactor-games-delphi-interactive-layoffs/
- Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, Gaming, TV

## Key points

- Refactor Games cuts 85% of staff after FIFA World Cup game launch
- Publisher Delphi Interactive reportedly pulled funding post-release
- Game had strong sales but poor critical reviews

## Summary

Refactor Games, the studio behind FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, has laid off 85% of its staff just two months after the Netflix-exclusive game launched. Studio head Nathan Burba confirmed the cuts, with reports indicating that publisher Delphi Interactive withdrew funding shortly after the game shipped, leaving the future of the studio in serious doubt.

The game had a strong commercial debut, reaching 1.5 million players in its first week and being named by Netflix as one of its most successful cloud game launches, but it received poor critical reception. It marked the first FIFA-branded title since the organisation's split from EA Sports, and while some had doubted a rival could match EA's success, the studio's collapse appears to confirm those concerns. Refactor Games had previously developed Football Simulator, an American football title on Steam that struggled to attract players despite positive reviews.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.