FIFA Returns in 2026 as a Netflix Exclusive Game
▼ Summary
– The next official FIFA video game will be exclusive to Netflix Games and launch around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first new FIFA title in four years.
– Netflix subscribers can play the game for free on select TVs, using a phone as a controller, in either solo or online multiplayer modes.
– The game is being developed by Delphi Interactive, a studio that has not yet released a game and is also working on a 007 title.
– FIFA and Netflix executives state the collaboration aims to innovate football gaming and make it widely accessible, celebrating the 2026 World Cup.
– This release follows EA’s 2022 split from the FIFA brand, after which FIFA has struggled to maintain a gaming presence until announcing this and a mascot-focused game.
The iconic FIFA video game franchise is making a major comeback, and it will be available exclusively through Netflix Games in 2025 ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. This marks the first official FIFA-branded game release in four years, signaling a bold new strategy for the football governing body in the gaming space. Netflix subscribers will have the opportunity to play this title on their televisions, using a smartphone as a controller, with options for both solo and online multiplayer gameplay.
The development and publishing duties fall to Delphi Interactive, a studio that has not yet released a commercial game. According to its website, Delphi is also collaborating with IO Interactive on a project titled 007 First Light. This partnership represents a significant venture for both the new studio and Netflix’s expanding gaming division.
Netflix’s president of games, Alain Tascan, emphasized the accessibility of the upcoming title. “The FIFA World Cup is going to be the cultural event of 2026, and now fans will be able to celebrate their fandom by bringing the game right into their living rooms,” Tascan stated. “We want to bring football back to its roots with something everyone can play with just the touch of a button.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also highlighted the partnership as a pivotal moment for the organization’s digital ambitions. “This major collaboration is a key milestone in FIFA’s commitment to innovation in the football gaming space,” Infantino said. “It aspires to reach billions of football fans of all ages everywhere in the world and will be redefining the pure notion of simulation games. Our reimagined game truly marks the beginning of a new era of digital football.”
It is important to note that initial availability will be limited. The game will launch on select television models in certain countries, with Netflix planning a broader rollout over time. Full details regarding compatible devices and regions are available on the Netflix website.
This move follows the high-profile split between FIFA and Electronic Arts in 2022, which ended a nearly three-decade licensing partnership. EA has since continued its football simulation series under the new EA Sports FC banner. FIFA, meanwhile, has struggled to establish its brand independently in the gaming market since that separation. The announcement of this Netflix-exclusive World Cup game, along with the previously revealed mascot-focused title FIFA Heroes, represents FIFA’s renewed push to reclaim its place in the digital entertainment landscape.
(Source: EuroGamer)
