# Refractor Games cuts most of staff after Fifa World Cup launch

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-developer-behind-fifa-world-cup-which-launched-less-than-two-months-ago-has-laid-off-85-of-its-staff/
- Published: 2026-08-04T15:32:29+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-04T21:47:17+00:00
- Original publisher: Eurogamer
- Original article: https://www.eurogamer.net/fifa-world-cup-game-layoffs
- Topics: Business, Celebrity, Entertainment, Software, Technology

## Key points

- Refractor Games laid off ~85% of staff after shipping Fifa World Cup
- Cuts followed cancelled funding for the studio's next project
- Around 80 staff affected; studio remains open, not fully closed

## Summary

Refractor Games, the studio behind Fifa World Cup: Launch Edition, laid off around 85% of its staff less than two months after the game's release, marking a swift and drastic downturn for a team that had just shipped a major title. The game launched exclusively on Netflix on 11th June and was published by Delphi Interactive, which also worked on 007: First Light. Studio head Nathan Burba confirmed the cuts to Gamesbeat, tying them to the cancellation of funding for the studio's next project, and the news first emerged after affected employees posted about their departures on LinkedIn.

Reports put the total number of staff let go at roughly 80, though the studio has not been shut down entirely despite some social media posts implying otherwise. Burba did not elaborate further when contacted by Gamesbeat, and Eurogamer's approaches to both Fifa and Delphi for comment went unanswered.

## Coverage

- [Eurogamer: Refractor Games cuts most of staff after Fifa World Cup launch](https://www.eurogamer.net/fifa-world-cup-game-layoffs)
- [GameSpot: This Game Was Labeled A Success. Its Developer Laid Off 85% Of Staff 2 Months After Release.](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/this-game-was-labeled-a-success-its-developer-laid-off-85-of-staff-2-months-after-release/)

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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.