FuturLab announced that it has let go of seven members of its team after deciding to cancel a development effort that was unrelated to its flagship title, PowerWash Simulator. The decision was communicated by the company's chief executive officer, Kirsty Rigden, in an interview with the outlet This Week in Video Games.
Rigden explained that the cancelled project was still in the pre‑production phase when the studio concluded that the expected revenue would not cover the projected costs. "Continuing with it would not have been a sensible decision," she said, emphasizing that the financial outlook simply did not justify further investment. In the same statement, Rigden reaffirmed FuturLab's unwavering dedication to delivering the best possible sequel to PowerWash Simulator, while also continuing to experiment with new concepts for future games. She noted that this strategic focus required a thorough review of the studio's long‑term plans and resource needs.
"This is awful because these are people who are extremely talented, many of whom have been with us for a long time, and I truly appreciate them," Rigden added. She described the layoffs as a painful but necessary step, arguing that making hard choices early could protect the company's future stability. When pressed about whether the seven individuals were dismissed through a formal redundancy process, Rigden declined to provide further details, citing the confidentiality of a legally binding procedure.
She indicated that the specifics of the process could not be disclosed publicly. According to anonymous sources speaking to This Week in Video Games, the cancellation of the project was first announced by Rigden in late June.
The venture, which had reportedly been under development for two to three years, was suddenly halted, leaving the staff assigned to it without new assignments for several weeks. One source claimed that the project team was essentially "left hanging" with no work to occupy them during that period.
The seven employees who were ultimately let go were reportedly made redundant in July. Sources said that managers and team leads were not informed in advance that their direct reports would be departing, nor were they given an explanation for the sudden change. In August, a meeting was reportedly held in which FuturLab's chief operating officer, Chris Mehers, described the situation as a restructuring of the studio. During a follow‑up meeting, employees were instructed to avoid using the term "redundancy" when referring to the departing staff, and instead to label them as "the leavers." The guidance also included a reassurance that the exits would not affect the development of PowerWash Simulator 2.
Employees were told that the departing team members were not required for the sequel, and that their absence would not hinder the game's progress. According to the sources, managers and team leads were deliberately excluded from the selection process for the layoffs in order to spare them from feeling personal responsibility. This approach was intended to reduce the emotional strain on the affected workers, who might otherwise spend weeks uncertain about their job security during the process. Earlier conversations with Rigden by GamesIndustry.biz touched on the studio's future direction, including the now‑cancelled project.
Rigden highlighted that FuturLab has historically tried to run two projects simultaneously and that the company is eager to develop another game beyond the PowerWash brand. "We don't want to be just a PowerWash studio," she said.
"We're always thinking about, 'What else could we do?'" The broader context of the layoffs reflects a common challenge in the video‑game industry: balancing creative ambition with financial viability. Smaller studios, especially those that have achieved success with a breakout title, often feel pressure to diversify their portfolios while maintaining the quality that earned them a reputation.
When a new project fails to meet revenue expectations, the resulting budget shortfalls can force difficult staffing decisions. Industry analysts note that pre‑production phases are particularly risky because they involve significant planning and resource allocation without a guaranteed return.
In FuturLab's case, the decision to cancel the project early—while still in pre‑production—may have prevented larger financial losses down the line, but it also resulted in the loss of talent that had been cultivated over several years. The handling of the layoffs, including the instruction to avoid the word "redundancy," has drawn criticism from some observers who argue that transparent communication is essential for maintaining trust within a team.
By labeling the departing staff as "the leavers," the studio may have attempted to soften the perception of job loss, yet such euphemisms can sometimes be seen as dismissive of the real impact on employees' livelihoods. Looking forward, FuturLab's leadership appears committed to focusing its resources on PowerWash Simulator 2 while continuing to prototype new ideas. The company has hinted at an upcoming title that could expand its portfolio beyond the cleaning‑simulation genre. Whether this new venture will succeed without the experience of the staff who were let go remains to be seen, but the studio's resolve to innovate suggests that it will continue to explore fresh concepts while learning from the recent restructuring.
In summary, FuturLab's recent staff reductions stem from the cancellation of a long‑running, non‑PowerWash project that was deemed financially untenable. The seven affected employees were let go in July, with management reportedly shielding team leads from direct involvement in the decision to mitigate guilt and stress.
The studio has emphasized that the cuts will not impact the development of PowerWash Simulator 2 and has signaled an intention to pursue additional projects in the future, aiming to avoid becoming solely associated with a single franchise.