We’ve been watching a troubling story about UFL developer Strikerz that, if true, would reshape the studio’s future. According to Insider Gaming, new reporting suggests Strikerz is facing mass layoffs as the game struggles to gain traction. Take this with a pinch of salt — the numbers and the company’s account do not line up, but the implications are serious either way.
What Was Reported
Per Insider Gaming, Russian outlet App2Top reports that Strikerz is cutting staff aggressively, with the workforce allegedly being reduced from 450 people to 200. That math would mean over 200 people are reportedly losing their jobs, and App2Top says affected employees have been in communication with company HR about next steps.
App2Top reportedly describes the situation as something that had been “brewing for a long time,” and names a failed attempt to sign a licensing deal with FIFA as a key trigger. According to those claims, the studio had been aiming to hold a major event around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but without a licensing agreement those plans were scrapped.
Insider Gaming also reports that, prior to these layoffs, “many top-level managers had been let go as part of a restructure to turn the game around.” That detail, if accurate, suggests this is not a single isolated move but part of a broader operational shake-up.
The Source & Credibility
Numbers And Statements
It’s important to note the discrepancy between the external report and the developer’s own account. App2Top is the outlet cited for the claim of a reduction from 450 to 200 staff. But Strikerz, in a statement provided to Insider Gaming, says the company is only making changes that have “affected approximately 20% of our workforce” and did not give a direct number.
The developer’s full statement, published by Insider Gaming, says the company is “evolving its operating model to support the continued growth of the UFL franchise into a multi-platform ecosystem.” It also references a “soft launch of UFL on mobile” and frames the changes as part of an alignment for the “next stage of the business.”
So we have two competing narratives: one from App2Top alleging a reduction to 200 staff, and one from Strikerz claiming roughly 20% of the workforce has been affected. Both are being reported by Insider Gaming — which means readers should weigh both claims and, yes, take this with a pinch of salt.
What It Could Mean
If App2Top’s figures are accurate, this would represent a steep contraction in headcount that could materially impact development capacity and upcoming plans for the UFL franchise. The report ties the move to a “failed attempt to sign a licensing deal with FIFA,” and says the studio had been planning a major event around the 2026 FIFA World Cup — plans that were allegedly scrapped when the deal did not go through.
On the other hand, if Strikerz is correct and the changes amount to roughly 20% of the workforce, that still signals a meaningful reorganization but is a far less dramatic contraction than App2Top’s numbers suggest. In its statement, Strikerz frames the changes as organizational evolution: changes to responsibilities and team structures, the creation of new functions, and alignment following the mobile soft launch of UFL.
Either scenario is consistent with a studio that is attempting to pivot after a launch that “hasn’t gained the traction the studio had hoped for upon release,” per Insider Gaming. The previous departures of top-level managers, also reported, add a layer of context that hints at a longer-term attempt to reposition the project and company.
Why This Matters
This story is significant for a few reasons. First, it concerns the future of the UFL franchise and the team behind it: whether the studio loses 20% of staff or more than half, those changes affect how the developer can support existing products and deliver on its roadmap. Strikerz says it will “continue to operate as usual, fully supporting its existing products, investing in the future of the UFL franchise, and delivering on its planned roadmap across all platforms,” but the divergence in reported numbers leaves room for doubt.
Second, the alleged collapse of a licensing push with FIFA — and the cancellation of a planned World Cup event — is a concrete example of a commercial opportunity that, if missed, may have contributed to this situation. Again, this is “allegedly” the last straw per the reporting.
We’re following this closely and will update readers as more confirmed information becomes available. For now, weigh the conflicting claims: App2Top’s report of a reduction from 450 to 200, and Strikerz’s own claim that roughly 20% of the workforce has been affected. Both are reported by Insider Gaming — and until there’s clearer confirmation, take this account with a healthy dose of skepticism.
