Refactor Games Faces Major Cuts and Shutdown After Funding Loss
WHO:
tbreak.com - Refactor Games, a US studio, part-owned by Delphi Interactive.
tbreak.com - Casper Daugaard, chief executive of Delphi Interactive.
WN Hub - Nathan Burba, founder of Refactor Games.
WHAT:
tbreak.com - Refactor Games intends to regroup and hopes to rehire a number of the employees it laid off, although this plan was not mentioned during the meeting where layoffs were announced.
tbreak.com - Delphi Interactive's chief executive, Casper Daugaard, stated that the FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition was "doing extremely well."
tbreak.com - The FIFA World Cup project reportedly had a budget in the hundreds of millions.
tbreak.com - Refactor Games laid off around 80 people, reducing its workforce by 85%.
tbreak.com - The FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition was released as a Netflix Games exclusive in June.
tbreak.com - The game reportedly had 1.5 million players in its first week.
WN Hub - Departing employees expressed disappointment over the studio's closure shortly after the game's launch.
WN Hub - Critical reviews highlighted issues with the game's user interface, visual fidelity, and player intelligence.
WHERE:
tbreak.com - The game is available on Netflix, including in the UAE.
WHEN:
tbreak.com - The layoffs were communicated in a general meeting on July 31.
tbreak.com - The FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition was launched in June.
tbreak.com - Netflix described the game as a top-tier success on July 16.
WHY:
tbreak.com - The closure of Refactor Games followed the end of funding from Delphi Interactive, which was reportedly made without warning.
tbreak.com - Delphi Interactive pulled funding from Refactor Games, leading to the studio's closure.
tbreak.com - The decision to end funding was reportedly made without warning.
HOW:
tbreak.com - Staff were informed of the layoffs during a general meeting, with no severance offered, and the final paycheck issued on that day.
tbreak.com - Staff were informed of the layoffs during a general meeting, with no severance offered and the final paycheck issued on that day.
Refactor Games has announced plans to regroup and hopes to rehire some of the employees it recently laid off, although this intention was not disclosed during the meeting where the layoffs were announced. Meanwhile, Delphi Interactive's chief executive, Casper Daugaard, reported that the FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition is performing exceptionally well, despite the project having a budget in the hundreds of millions. The layoffs at Refactor Games came after Delphi Interactive unexpectedly cut off funding, leaving staff without severance and receiving their final paychecks on the same day they were informed of the layoffs.