FuturLab has recently announced a reduction in its headcount, letting go of seven members of its team after the company decided to cancel a development effort that was unrelated to its flagship title, PowerWash Simulator. The decision was communicated by the studio’s chief executive officer, Kirsty Rigden, in an interview with the outlet This Week in Video Games. According to Rigden, the cancelled venture was still in the pre‑production phase when the decision was made, and internal financial forecasts indicated that the project would have required more investment than the revenue it was expected to generate. Continuing to fund the effort, she explained, would not have made sense from a business standpoint.
Rigden emphasized that FuturLab remains fully dedicated to delivering the best possible sequel to PowerWash Simulator, while also experimenting with new concepts for future titles. She noted that this strategic focus has forced the studio to reassess its long‑term plans and the resources needed to achieve them. "This is a painful situation because the people we are saying goodbye to are extremely talented and many have been with us for a long time," Rigden said.
"I have a great deal of respect and appreciation for each of them. The decision was not taken lightly, but making tough choices early helps safeguard the company’s future stability." When pressed about whether the seven employees were dismissed through a formal redundancy process, Rigden declined to provide specifics, citing confidentiality and legal constraints surrounding the matter.
She indicated that details about the procedure could not be disclosed publicly. Anonymous insiders who spoke to This Week in Video Games provided additional context. They reported that Rigden first announced the termination of the side project in late June. The venture, which had reportedly been under development for two to three years, was apparently left in limbo for several weeks, with the staff assigned to it receiving no new assignments during that period.
By July, the seven individuals directly involved in the cancelled project were made redundant, according to the sources. The insiders further claimed that the managers and team leads overseeing the affected employees were not told in advance that their team members would be let go, nor were they given an explanation for the sudden change. In August, a company‑wide meeting was allegedly held during which Chief Operating Officer Chris Mehers described the situation as a restructuring of the studio.
In a subsequent briefing, employees were instructed to avoid using the term "redundancy" when referring to the departing staff, opting instead for the euphemism "the leavers." According to the reports, the remaining staff were reassured that the departures would not hinder the development of PowerWash Simulator 2. Managers were said to have been deliberately excluded from the selection process for the layoffs, a move intended to shield them from personal guilt and to reduce the emotional strain on the individuals being let go.
The rationale provided was to prevent the affected employees from experiencing prolonged uncertainty about their job security over the two‑week period that the process spanned. The situation at FuturLab reflects a broader trend in the video‑game industry where studios, especially those that have achieved success with a single hit, grapple with balancing the desire to diversify their portfolio against the financial realities of game development.
In a previous interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Rigden discussed the studio’s ambition to work on multiple projects simultaneously. She expressed excitement about a new, unnamed game in the pipeline, emphasizing that FuturLab does not wish to be pigeon‑holed as merely a "PowerWash" studio. "We’re always asking ourselves, ‘What else could we do?’" she said, underscoring the company’s intent to explore fresh ideas while maintaining the quality of its existing franchise. The episode also highlights the human side of corporate restructuring in creative industries.
Employees who are let go often face abrupt changes to their professional lives, and the language used by management can significantly affect morale and public perception. By directing staff to use the term "the leavers" instead of "redundancy," FuturLab’s leadership appears to have been attempting to soften the impact of the layoffs, though critics might view such terminology as a way to obscure the reality of job losses. Overall, FuturLab’s recent workforce reduction underscores the challenges small to mid‑size studios encounter when trying to juggle multiple development cycles, manage financial risk, and retain talent.
While the company remains committed to delivering an improved sequel to PowerWash Simulator and is reportedly working on another undisclosed project, the departure of seven seasoned team members serves as a reminder of the volatility inherent in the gaming sector. The long‑term effects of this restructuring on FuturLab’s creative output, employee culture, and market reputation will likely become clearer as the studio progresses with its upcoming releases and navigates the competitive landscape of indie game development.