Sometimes divorce is the best answer for everybody, and both sides end up happy. EA didn't need FIFA's brand, or its $250 million licensing fee to make an insanely profitable soccer game. FIFA is now free to Netflix and chill.
The streaming giant isn't giving up on any of its plans to acquire dang near everything. I have yet to play a Netflix game that I remembered the second after I put it down, but I don't think I'm the target audience. Netflix remembers how much time people sank into Farmville and Mafia Wars in their heyday. They're looking to deliver a quick, casual fantasy of being a footballer. The player who spends 20 hours evolving Claudia Pina in FC 26 likely won't be enthralled by whatever Netflix comes up with, but they won't need to be.
If I had to bet on this project's success? In this era of layoffs, big budget failures and increasing market share for the biggest sharks in the pool, the smart answer is always against. Even Amazon and its infinite pockets couldn't figure out video game development before its bean counters decided New World wasn't worth burning any more money on.
But Netflix already has millions of eyes locked on its product. There's a whole lot more revenue just waiting for the streamer to figure out more ways to keep us enthralled in its warm glow. Many times, it really does take just a single killer app. Could a FIFA simulation tied to the World Cup be that thing? Netflix is betting it's worth a shot.