FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition Review – Netflix’s Football Game Fumbles Right Out Of The Gate

If you were hoping Netflix’s new football game would give EA FC a run for its money, brace yourself for disappointment. FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition has landed on Netflix Games, and early reviews suggest it’s struggling to even pass as a decent alternative, let alone a worthy competitor.

Why Was This Game Even Made?

The backstory here is almost as messy as the gameplay itself. EA stepped away from the FIFA branding back in 2023 after the governing body reportedly demanded around $1 billion every four years for licensing rights, prompting EA to launch its own EA FC series instead. In response, FIFA promised the world its own football simulator to rival EA’s juggernaut. The result? Launch Edition. soompi

What Went Wrong?

According to the review, the most glaring issue is the visual presentation, with menus and matches described as messy and lacking polish, especially compared to titles with real production budgets. The pacing doesn’t help either, as players move at a uniform, leisurely speed that strips away any real variation in strategy. Once a winning approach is found, it can simply be repeated endlessly.

The control scheme adds to the frustration. Launch Edition requires using a phone alongside your TV or laptop through the Netflix Controller app, splitting controls between an analog cursor and a touch-sensitive pad. Even basic actions like passing to a specific player can feel clunky, since the game often auto-selects a different target than intended.

Even the commentary misses the mark, often reacting with excitement that doesn’t match what’s actually happening on the pitch, a small but telling detail that undercuts the overall experience.

The Bottom Line

For football fans who already own EA FC, especially given how often it gets discounted and bundled into subscription services, there’s little reason to give Launch Edition a try. It comes across as an ambitious attempt at a big-budget simulator without the resources to back it up.

For those curious about how football video games evolved from the original FIFA series to today’s EA FC, here’s some background on Wikipedia: EA Sports FC.

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