Netflix's FIFA replacement hopes to reboot the franchise during the World Cup

As popular as the EA Sports FC series is, it can be a little daunting for casual soccer fans who want to dip their toes into a video game. Nuanced controls, dense menus, and monetization layers can make for a complicated onboarding experience. Netflix is hoping to ease some of those barriers with FIFA World Cup, an officially licensed soccer game launching June 11 as a Netflix exclusive. Ahead of its official reveal, Polygon went hands-on with the Launch Edition of FIFA World Cup and learned about Netflix’s long-term plans for the game. The goal is to create a pick-up-and-play live-service game that stays true to the sport while eliminating much of the friction associated with modern gaming. All it takes is a Netflix account and a few button taps to start playing. The project is developed by Delphi Interactive, a team that has become very relevant in recent weeks. Delphi was the driving force behind 007 First Light, building the original pitch and securing the rights to the IP before roping developer IO Interactive in for development. Delphi pulled off the same trick for the FIFA IP after the organization ended its 30-year partnership with EA in 2022. The winning pitch was for a mo