Refractor Games lays off 85% of the studio after a Netflix game

Halting the funding of a studio immediately after the delivery of a completed project reveals the predatory volatility and disrespect with which certain publishers treat the workforce in game development. Refractor Games, responsible for producing the recent Fifa World Cup: Launch Edition, laid off about 80 employees — 85% of its workforce — less than two months after the football title debuted on Netflix.

The widespread layoffs became public through reports from affected professionals on LinkedIn.

Art director Barclay Chantel disclosed that the publisher Delphi Interactive completely halted funding as soon as production was completed.

Also known for publishing 007: First Light, Delphi Interactive simply canceled the budget for the studio's next project. 3D artist Joseph Civitate confirmed that the budget cut impacted virtually every department in the company.

Although the number of exits raised suspicions about the possible closure of operations, CEO Nathan Burba told Gamesbeat that the studio will continue to operate with a reduced structure, refusing to explain the reasons for the decision to the press.

Treating developers as disposable resources after fulfilling contractual deliveries destroys any chance of stability in the industry. Cutting off investments at a time when the team should be reaping the rewards of the release harms dozens of families and weakens independent production.