FIFA Looks for a New Identity After EA Sports FC

The continued commercial and critical success of EA Sports FC has reshaped assumptions about the importance of the FIFA licence. By walking away from the branding and its reportedly billion-dollar licensing costs, EA proved that the football game audience was loyal to the experience rather than the name.

For the football governing body, the split left a significant gap. Despite multiple attempts, the organisation struggled to secure a development partner capable of delivering a modern football game that could live up to its global profile.

Netflix Games Steps In Ahead of the 2026 World Cup

That search has now led to an unexpected collaborator as FIFA has officially announced a partnership with Netflix Games to develop a new football title timed around the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The game is being positioned as a celebration of the tournament itself, aiming to capture the emotion, drama, and global spectacle of the World Cup rather than directly competing with traditional football simulators.

Development Led by Delphi Interactive

Development duties have been assigned to Delphi Interactive, a California-based studio still early in its lifecycle. While the team has yet to release a standalone game, it is currently supporting IO Interactive on the upcoming James Bond title 007 First Light.

FIFA has framed this experience as evidence of Delphi Interactive’s technical credibility, particularly in handling large-scale licensed projects.

Designed for Accessibility and Global Reach

Unlike EA Sports FC, the Netflix-backed game is not targeting hardcore simulation fans alone. According to early statements, the project is designed to be approachable, fast to learn, and enjoyable for a broad global audience.

This philosophy aligns closely with Netflix’s wider games strategy, which prioritises accessibility across devices and regions rather than traditional console ecosystems.

The new FIFA game will be playable through the Netflix app on Android and iOS devices. Selected smart TVs with Netflix integration will also support the game, with smartphones acting as controllers in those setups.

The platform choice signals a clear shift away from conventional console releases, instead leaning into Netflix’s existing global user base.

Free for Subscribers, Launch Planned Before 2026

While no exact release date has been announced, FIFA confirmed that the game will launch ahead of the 2026 World Cup. It will be available at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers.

Whether this marks the beginning of a long-term revival for FIFA-branded games or a one-off World Cup experiment remains to be seen, but the partnership represents FIFA’s most concrete step forward since its split with EA.