FuturLab has recently announced a reduction in its staff numbers, with seven members of the team parting ways after the company decided to terminate a development effort that was not linked 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. Rigden explained that the cancelled venture was still in the pre‑production phase when the company concluded that the projected revenue would not cover the anticipated costs.
"Continuing with it would not have made sense from a financial standpoint," she said, emphasizing that the move was driven by a need to preserve the studio’s long‑term health. In her statement, Rigden also reaffirmed FuturLab’s unwavering commitment to delivering the best possible sequel to PowerWash Simulator. She noted that, alongside polishing the upcoming sequel, the studio continues to prototype fresh concepts for future titles. This dual focus, she added, has forced the leadership to reassess the studio’s future staffing requirements and overall strategic direction.
The CEO expressed genuine regret over the loss of talent, describing the affected employees as "super‑talented" and many of them as long‑standing members of the team. "This was not an easy or quick decision," Rigden admitted, "but making hard choices early helps protect FuturLab’s future stability." When pressed about whether the departures were formally classified as redundancies, she declined to provide further details, citing confidentiality and a legally binding process.
According to anonymous sources who spoke to This Week in Video Games, the cancellation of the side project was first announced by Rigden in late June. The initiative had reportedly been in development for two to three years before being shelved. One insider claimed that, after the announcement, the staff assigned to the project were left without new assignments for several weeks, creating uncertainty about their future roles within the company. The seven individuals who ultimately left the studio were said to have been made redundant in July.
Sources indicated 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 abrupt change. In August, a meeting was convened in which FuturLab’s chief operating officer, Chris Mehers, reportedly described the situation as part of a broader restructuring effort.
During that meeting, employees were instructed to avoid using the term "redundancy" when referring to the departing staff. Instead, they were asked to label them as "the leavers," a directive that has drawn criticism for its perceived attempt to soften the impact of the layoffs.
Workers were also told that the seven former employees were not required for the development of PowerWash Simulator 2, and that their exit would not affect the timeline or quality of the sequel. Further allegations suggest that managers and team leads were deliberately excluded from the selection process for the layoffs in order to shield them from guilt or blame. The rationale given was to reduce the emotional strain on the departing staff, who might otherwise spend weeks worrying about their job security during the transition period.
Earlier conversations with Rigden, published by GamesIndustry.biz, revealed that FuturLab has a history of running two projects simultaneously. She hinted at an upcoming, undisclosed title that she described as "something I’m really excited about," underscoring the studio’s ambition to diversify beyond the PowerWash brand.
"We don’t want to be just a PowerWash studio," Rigden said. "We’re always thinking about what else we could do." The broader context of the layoffs reflects a common challenge in the video‑game industry: balancing creative ambition with fiscal responsibility. While developers often pursue multiple concepts in parallel to hedge against market volatility, the reality of development costs, projected sales, and investor expectations can force studios to make painful cuts.
In FuturLab’s case, the decision to cancel a pre‑production project that had been in the pipeline for several years suggests that the anticipated return on investment was insufficient to justify continued expenditure. Industry observers note that the way a company handles redundancies can have lasting effects on its reputation and employee morale. The instruction to avoid the word "redundancy" and to use euphemistic language like "the leavers" may be seen as an attempt to manage public perception, but it can also be interpreted as a lack of transparency.
Such practices can influence how current and prospective talent view the studio’s culture and its commitment to open communication. Looking ahead, FuturLab’s leadership appears focused on delivering a polished sequel to PowerWash Simulator while exploring new intellectual properties. The studio’s stated intention to prototype fresh ideas indicates that, despite the recent staffing reductions, it aims to maintain a pipeline of innovative concepts. Whether these future projects will materialize into successful releases remains to be seen, but the company’s willingness to make difficult financial decisions suggests a pragmatic approach to sustaining its operations in a competitive market.
In summary, FuturLab’s recent staff cuts were the result of a strategic decision to terminate a non‑PowerWash project that was deemed financially untenable. Seven employees were let go, with management opting to describe them as "the leavers" rather than using the term "redundancy." The studio continues to prioritize the development of PowerWash Simulator 2 and is reportedly working on a new, as‑yet‑unnamed game that aims to broaden its portfolio beyond its current flagship. The situation highlights the delicate balance game developers must strike between creative exploration and economic viability, and it underscores the importance of clear, compassionate communication during periods of organizational change.