85% of Development Team Leaves One of 2026’s Most Controversial Games

Just two months after launching FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition exclusively on Netflix, developer Refactor Games has dismantled 85% of its workforce. Studio director Nathan Burba verified the devastating cuts to GamesBeat, while reports from Inside Gaming indicate that financial backing was abruptly pulled by publisher Delphi Interactive.

Former art director Barclay Chantel confirmed the sudden closure in a LinkedIn statement:

“Well, it looks like I’m back on the market looking for a job again. Delphi just pulled the plug on Refactor studios [sic] right after we shipped the FIFA World Cup game for Netflix. The entire studio was let go today so if anyone is looking for talent I can put you in contact with someone pretty awesome folks.”

Before taking on the Netflix FIFA project, Refactor Games developed Football Simulator, an American football title available via Steam Early Access. Despite earning favorable user reviews, SteamDB metrics show it peaked at a modest 188 concurrent players back in January 2025, dropping to a maximum of just 10 active players over a recent 24-hour window.

Conversely, FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition achieved massive initial reach, pulling in 1.5 million players during its debut week according to Game File. Netflix even highlighted the title in its Q2 2026 fiscal report as one of its premier cloud gaming launches. However, critical reception proved disastrous; Aftermath famously panned the experience as a “modern hellscape and an embarrassment to everyone involved.”

Immense pressure rested on FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition as the inaugural soccer title released following the iconic sports organization’s split from EA Sports. Critics and skeptics alike questioned whether an unproven studio could successfully rival EA’s juggernaut franchise. Tragically, those pessimistic forecasts ultimately rang true.