Refactor Games, Developer of FIFA World Cup, Reduces Workforce by 85%

Following an update on August 4th, Nathan Burba, the owner of Refactor Games, confirmed to Gamesbeat that the studio has laid off 85% of its staff. This confirmation has been incorporated into the story. Refactor Games, the development studio behind the recent Netflix release, FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, has confirmed the reduction of its workforce by 85%, as stated by its founder. This news comes after earlier reports from departing staff members claiming that the studio had been closed by its partner, Delphi Interactive. Several former employees took to LinkedIn, as reported by Game Developer, to express that the studio had ceased operations shortly after the launch of FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition. Refactor Games, a US-based studio, initially released Football Simulator in 2022, which entered early access. The studio comprised several former developers from prominent companies such as EA Sports, 2K Sports, and OneTeam Partners. Subsequently, the studio collaborated with Delphi on FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, which was released exclusively on Netflix Games in June 2026. Although Netflix described the game as a 'top-tier' performer, it received criticism from reviewers for its controls, graphics, and subpar player AI. A former employee stated on LinkedIn, 'Delphi terminated its support for Refactor studios immediately after we shipped the FIFA World Cup game for Netflix. As a result, the entire studio was let go, and I can facilitate connections with exceptionally talented individuals.' Another affected worker attributed the closure to a loss of funding, saying, 'After shipping the FIFA World Cup Launch Edition for Netflix Games, the studio's parent company unfortunately withdrew funding, resulting in the layoff of the entire team, including myself.' Delphi confirmed its partial ownership of Refactor in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz earlier this year. However, the exact number of individuals affected by the closure remains unclear, as Delphi Interactive and Refactor Games have not responded to requests for comment.