{"id":40934,"date":"2026-08-03T18:03:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T18:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/?p=40934"},"modified":"2026-08-03T18:03:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T18:03:58","slug":"studio-behind-netflixs-poorly-received-world-cup-game-reportedly-shutting-down-merely-eight-weeks-after-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/?p=40934","title":{"rendered":"Studio Behind Netflix’s Poorly Received World Cup Game Reportedly Shutting Down Merely Eight Weeks After Release"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

**FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition – A Brief Journey in Gaming on Netflix**<\/p>\n

On June 11, 2026, Netflix made a notable entry into the gaming sector by launching *FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition*, available exclusively on its streaming games platform for subscribers. This release received a mix of feedback from reviewers who pointed out shortcomings in the game’s graphics and mechanics. Nonetheless, Netflix promoted the title as one of its most triumphant cloud gaming debuts to date.<\/p>\n

Despite the company\u2019s positive perspective, it was reported that the development team responsible for the game, Refractor Studios, encountered an unexpected and serious obstacle just two months later. Several employees shared on LinkedIn that they had been let go, signaling a concerning shift in circumstances following the game’s launch. It was rumored that the entire studio was shut down after Delphi Interactive, the studio’s co-owner, opted to withdraw its financial support.<\/p>\n

The news was disclosed by *Game Developer*, which noted that the layoffs and potential closure took many workers by surprise. Although the specific number of employees affected is still unknown, the swift move to reduce staff came right after the studio had delivered the eagerly awaited game.<\/p>\n

Statements from former staff underline the suddenness of the layoffs. Barclay Chantel, the art director at Refractor, voiced frustration on LinkedIn, saying, “Delphi just pulled the plug on Refractor Studios right after we shipped the FIFA World Cup game for Netflix.” Likewise, Nathan Potter, a full stack developer, echoed these feelings, revealing that everyone was laid off following their significant achievement.<\/p>\n

Founded in 2020, Delphi Interactive aimed to transform the production of AAA games, yet their actions bring this vision into question. The decision to end funding for a studio soon after the successful launch of a game raises concerns about the commitments highlighted on their website.<\/p>\n

While *FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition* succeeded in securing a top-tier status for Netflix\u2014even amidst criticism\u2014the affected developers faced the consequences of corporate decisions that reflect common patterns in the gaming sector. As time passes, many skilled individuals from Refractor are now on the lookout for new opportunities, eager to advance their careers in game development or related areas.<\/p>\n

Delphi Interactive has not yet offered additional details regarding the closure. This situation serves as a reminder of the unpredictability within the gaming industry and the fragile dynamics of studio funding in the face of shifting fortunes, even for projects considered successful by publishers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/div>\n

**FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition – A Brief Journey in Gaming on Netflix**<\/p>\n

On June 11, 2026, Netflix made a notable entry into the gaming sector by launching *FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition*, available exclusively on its streaming games platform for subscribers. This release received a mix of feedback from reviewers who pointed out shortcomings in the game’s graphics and mechanics. Nonetheless, Netflix promoted the title as one of its most triumphant cloud gaming debuts to date.<\/p>\n

Despite the company\u2019s positive perspective, it was reported that the development team responsible for the game, Refractor Studios, encountered an unexpected and serious obstacle just two months later. Several employees shared on LinkedIn that they had been let go, signaling a concerning shift in circumstances following the game’s launch. It was rumored that the entire studio was shut down after Delphi Interactive, the studio’s co-owner, opted to withdraw its financial support.<\/p>\n

The news was disclosed by *Game Developer*, which noted that the layoffs and potential closure took many workers by surprise. Although the specific number of employees affected is still unknown, the swift move to reduce staff came right after the studio had delivered the eagerly awaited game.<\/p>\n

Statements from former staff underline the suddenness of the layoffs. Barclay Chantel, the art director at Refractor, voiced frustration on LinkedIn, saying, “Delphi just pulled the plug on Refractor Studios right after we shipped the FIFA World Cup game for Netflix.” Likewise, Nathan Potter, a full stack developer, echoed these feelings, revealing that everyone was laid off following their significant achievement.<\/p>\n

Founded in 2020, Delphi Interactive aimed to transform the production of AAA games, yet their actions bring this vision into question. The decision to end funding for a studio soon after the successful launch of a game raises concerns about the commitments highlighted on their website.<\/p>\n

While *FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition* succeeded in securing a top-tier status for Netflix\u2014even amidst criticism\u2014the affected developers faced the consequences of corporate decisions that reflect common patterns in the gaming sector. As time passes, many skilled individuals from Refractor are now on the lookout for new opportunities, eager to advance their careers in game development or related areas.<\/p>\n

Delphi Interactive has not yet offered additional details regarding the closure. This situation serves as a reminder of the unpredictability within the gaming industry and the fragile dynamics of studio funding in the face of shifting fortunes, even for projects considered successful by publishers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40935,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40934"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40934\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gaitgames.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}