Fifa bets on Netflix for a surprising gaming comeback
Fifa is set to return to the video game market in 2026, marking the end of a hiatus that began after its high profile split with long time publisher Electronic Arts. According to reporting from the BBC, the relaunch is scheduled to take place ahead of the 2026 men’s World Cup, a tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Rather than teaming up with a traditional console heavyweight, Fifa has chosen Netflix as the new home for its rebooted football title, signaling a shift toward mobile and cloud based gaming.
A new partner outside traditional gaming
Netflix confirmed it has secured the rights to publish the new Fifa game as part of its expanding games division, according to statements cited by the BBC. The streaming company has steadily grown its interactive offerings in recent years, positioning games as an added benefit for subscribers rather than a standalone product.
The game will be developed and published by Delphi Interactive, a California based studio that has yet to release its first commercial video game. Netflix said players will be able to access the title through the Netflix app on iOS and Android devices, with support for selected smart TVs using a mobile phone as a controller.
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The approach reflects Netflix’s broader push to lower the barrier to entry for gaming by avoiding traditional consoles and upfront purchases.
How the EA era came to an end
Fifa’s original gaming partnership began in 1993, when EA Sports released the first title in what would become one of the most successful franchises in video game history. The relationship lasted three decades before collapsing in 2023, following disagreements that included the rising cost of licensing the Fifa name, according to previous reporting by Reuters.
Electronic Arts opted to continue the series under a new brand, EA Sports FC. Despite skepticism around the rebrand, the franchise retained its commercial strength. EA FC 24 was the best selling game in the UK in 2023, according to industry sales data referenced by the BBC.
At its peak, the Fifa series was estimated to have reached roughly 150 million players worldwide, underscoring the scale of the audience Netflix is now hoping to attract.
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Leadership optimism and fan skepticism
Fifa president Gianni Infantino welcomed the announcement, describing the partnership as a turning point for the organization’s digital ambitions. “Our reimagined game truly marks the beginning of a new era of digital football,” Infantino said, according to Fifa’s official statement. “It will be available for free to Netflix members and is a great historic step for Fifa.”
Delphi Interactive chief executive Casper Daugaard also struck an ambitious tone, saying the studio, as “lifelong Fifa fans”, aimed to build “the most fun, approachable, and global football game ever created”.
Online reaction has been mixed. Some fans expressed nostalgia for the EA era, while others adopted a wait and see attitude. “FIFA should never have left EA,” one user wrote on X. Another commented, “Let’s see what the new game’s got.”
A gamble timed to football’s biggest stage
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Fifa is betting that global attention on the sport will help reignite interest in its gaming brand.
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Whether a mobile first, subscription based model can satisfy long time fans raised on console realism remains an open question.
What is clear is that Fifa’s return to gaming will look very different from its past, and the success or failure of the Netflix partnership may shape how major sports brands approach games in the future.
Sources, BBC, Reuters, Netflix, Fifa, EA Sports
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