Fifa World Cup Launch Edition Developer Cuts 85 Percent of Staff Weeks After Release
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Refractor Games has laid off 85 percent of its staff just two months after releasing Fifa World Cup: Launch Edition on Netflix, following the sudden cancellation of future project funding.
The gaming industry continues to deal with severe instability as Refractor Games, the studio behind the recently launched Fifa World Cup: Launch Edition, has laid off roughly 85 percent of its workforce. The cuts hit just two months after the title debuted exclusively on Netflix in June, published by Delphi Interactive. Affected team members shared the news across professional networks like LinkedIn, confirming that the mass layoffs followed the cancellation of funding for the studio's next project.
Studio head Nathan Burba confirmed the staggering headcount reduction to Gamesbeat, while Insider Gaming reported that around 80 staff members lost their jobs. Industry veterans took to social media to advocate for their peers, highlighting the harsh reality of shipping a major licensed product only to face sudden unemployment. The project's art director, Barclay Chantel, and 3D artist Joseph Civitate both confirmed the abrupt closure of active development pipelines at the studio.
This situation highlights a recurring and deeply troubling trend across the games industry, where successful launches and live service deployments fail to protect developers from sudden funding pullouts. For players who treat gaming as a stable daily entertainment hub, these repeated developer crises underscore a growing disconnect between corporate financial strategies and the human talent required to build the virtual spaces we enjoy. Original reporting comes via Eurogamer, with additional details sourced from Gamesbeat and Insider Gaming.
Tags: Industry News, Layoffs, Refractor Games, Netflix Games, Fifa World Cup
Original article: Eurogamer