The first FIFA-licensed video game since the governing body’s break-up with EA Sports will launch on the streaming service Netflix on June 11, as the World Cup gets underway in North America.
FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition will be free for all Netflix subscribers and is a touch-friendly experience with fans using their smartphones to control the action on a television screen.
Players will connect their phones via a QR code, and up to four players can get in on the action. Netflix isn’t getting into specifics today and there’s not much in the way of gameplay footage, but the control system will rely on swipes on a touchscreen to pass and shoot, rather than button presses. It definitely seems like a much more casual experience compared to previous EA Sports-made FIFA games that got more and more technical as the years went on.
Netflix describes the action as “fast, fluid and fun” and its designed to be accessible to all, regardless of “how familiar you are with video games or football.” Indeed it seems FIFA is deliberately pitching the new game as an alternative to the EA Sports games rather than a rival.
Given the FIFA license is present, it’s no surprised that all 48 teams and 1248 players are present, as well as the 16 real-world stadiums are present. As the name “Launch Edition” suggests, this is just the beginning for the new era of FIFA games.
In a blog post, the streaming giant writes: “The Launch Edition represents our ‘Kickoff’ — a streamlined, high-energy game that will evolve over time but gives the immediate rush of playing along during this historic World Cup event.”
The game is going to be available on Netflix Games on TVs in 20 countries. They are: US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and Brazil. More nations will follow.
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