Refactor Games, the developer behind the FIFA World Cup, has laid off 85% of its workforce

UPDATE Aug 4th: Nathan Burba, the owner of the studio, informed Gamesbeat that 85% of their team had been let go. The current story includes this latest development.

Refactor Games, responsible for the FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition on Netflix, has reduced its staff by 85%, according to an announcement from its founder. This development aligns with prior reports from departing employees, as highlighted by Game Developer, which noted that its collaborator, Delphi Interactive, had instigated the closure. While Delphi has a small share in Refactor, it does not own the company.

The US-based studio first came out with Football Simulator in early access in 2022, hiring ex-employees from EA Sports, 2K Sports, and OneTeam Partners for its projects.

Subsequently, Refactor collaborated with Delphi for the FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, which became available exclusively on Netflix Games in June 2026.

Despite Netflix branding the game as a “top tier” success, feedback highlighted issues with controls, visual quality, and player AI.

Earlier in the year, Delphi acknowledged its partial ownership of Refactor in a conversation with GamesIndustry.biz.