Refractor Studios, responsible for developing FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, reportedly ceased operations just eight weeks after the title's release on the Netflix platform. This information was disclosed by former employees on social media, who claim that the entire team was laid off after Delphi Interactive, one of the studio's owners, withdrew funding.
As of now, neither Netflix nor Delphi Interactive has issued official statements regarding the incident.
According to reports published on LinkedIn, the layoffs occurred a few days after the team finalized the development of FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, which was made available on June 11 exclusively for Netflix's gaming service.
Barclay Chantel, art director, reported that Delphi Interactive ordered the studio's closure immediately after the project's launch, resulting in the dismissal of all collaborators. Nathan Potter, the company's full-stack developer, also stated that the funding was cut by the controlling entity shortly after the game's delivery, leading to the developer's shutdown. However, there is no official confirmation regarding the exact number of professionals affected.
The studio's closure draws attention because it happened shortly after Netflix itself classified FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition as one of its most successful releases in the cloud gaming category. Despite this positive classification from the platform, the game received criticism from both specialized press and players, especially concerning gameplay and graphics.
Even with the negative reception, the platform confirmed in July that the title was among its biggest successes in the gaming segment.
Delphi Interactive, established in 2020, focuses on intellectual property licensing and game development in collaboration with other studios. On its official website, the company states its goal is to 'redefine how AAA games are produced.' As of this article's publication, the company has remained silent about the layoffs or officially confirming the end of Refractor Studios' activities.
This incident adds to a series of cuts and closures impacting the gaming industry in recent years, even after the release of titles considered successful by distributors and publishers.