Netflix FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition Disappointed Players

Netflix FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition managed to capture the attention of football game fans the moment it was announced. The possibility of a strong alternative to EA Sports FC was exciting, especially for players who had long been waiting for new competition. However, initial leaks and reviews of the game show that this expectation hasn’t been met yet.

FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition Fails in Initial Reviews

The new FIFA game, coming before the 2026 World Cup, had a significant opportunity on paper. While eFootball maintains its audience, it’s not as strong in the mainstream as EA Sports FC. It’s still unclear how competitive projects like GOALS and UFL will be in the long term. Therefore, Netflix’s entry into the field with the FIFA license was naturally seen as a big event.

However, initial reviews have been quite negative. VGC gave the game a 1/5 rating, writing that the graphics were reminiscent of football games from the PS3 and Xbox 360 era. The review also used very harsh language regarding the commentary, stating that the voice acting felt almost like something from the PS1 era. What’s on Netflix, however, took a slightly softer approach, giving the game a 1.5/5 rating.

Player reactions are not much different from the reviews. In comments under the official gameplay trailer, the game was compared to old PES 2006, PlayStation 2, GameCube, and even Nintendo 64 games. While the trailer was expected to generate excitement, it became more of a subject of ridicule on social media, marking a bad start for Netflix.

This situation once again demonstrates how difficult it is to create a real competitor to EA Sports FC in the football game market. Netflix FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, despite having the right license and the right timing, seems to have failed to meet expectations in terms of technical quality, presentation, and gameplay in initial impressions.

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