FuturLab has announced a reduction of its workforce, 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, which was communicated by CEO Kirsty Rigden in an interview with This Week in Video Games, was framed as a financially driven move: the project, still in its pre‑production phase, was projected to cost more than the revenue it could realistically generate. "Continuing with it wouldn't have been a sensible decision," Rigden explained, emphasizing that the studio needed to prioritize fiscal responsibility while still delivering a high‑quality sequel to PowerWash Simulator. Rigden also highlighted FuturLab’s broader strategic focus.
While the studio remains fully committed to polishing and expanding PowerWash Simulator with a sequel—referred to internally as PowerWash Simulator 2—it is simultaneously exploring new concepts for future titles. This dual‑track approach, she said, requires constant evaluation of the studio’s resources, talent allocation, and long‑term goals.
"We are prototyping fresh ideas for upcoming games, and that has forced us to take a hard look at our future plans and the staffing requirements needed to achieve them," Rigden added. The CEO expressed deep regret over the layoffs, describing the departing employees as "super talented" and noting that many had been with FuturLab for an extended period.
"This was not an easy or quick decision to make, but by making difficult decisions early we protect FuturLab in the future," she said, underscoring the belief that early, decisive action can safeguard the company’s stability and ability to continue delivering quality experiences to its audience. When pressed about whether the term "redundancy" applied to the seven individuals who left, Rigden declined to provide further specifics, citing confidentiality and the legal sensitivities surrounding the process. "I’m unable to divulge any further details about a confidential and legally binding process," she said, leaving the exact nature of the termination ambiguous.
According to anonymous sources cited by This Week in Video Games, the cancellation of the unnamed project was announced by Rigden in late June. The venture had reportedly been under development for two to three years, suggesting a significant investment of time and resources before the decision to halt it was made. One insider claimed that after the cancellation, the staff assigned to the project were left without new assignments for several weeks, creating a period of uncertainty.
The seven employees who were ultimately let go were reportedly made redundant in July. Sources indicated that managers and team leads were not informed in advance about which of their direct reports would be affected, nor were they given an explanation for the sudden departures. This lack of communication appears to have been a deliberate choice by senior leadership, intended to shield managers from the emotional burden of delivering bad news and to minimize the stress experienced by the employees during the transition.
In August, a meeting was convened in which FuturLab’s Chief Operating Officer, Chris Mehers, addressed the studio’s restructuring efforts. During a subsequent gathering, employees were instructed to avoid using the word "redundancy" when referring to the departing staff, instead adopting the euphemistic label "the leavers." This directive was reportedly part of an effort to manage internal morale and maintain a positive narrative about the company’s direction. The affected staff were also told that their exit would not impact the development of PowerWash Simulator 2.
Managers were allegedly kept out of the selection process for the layoffs to prevent them from feeling personal guilt, and to reduce the anxiety of those being let go, who might otherwise spend weeks uncertain about their job security. Earlier conversations with GamesIndustry.biz revealed that FuturLab has historically aimed to juggle multiple projects simultaneously. Rigden hinted at the existence of another, as‑yet‑unnamed game that she is "really excited about," emphasizing the studio’s desire not to become a one‑title studio solely focused on PowerWash.
"We don’t want to just be a PowerWash studio… we’re always thinking about, ‘What else could we do?’" she said, indicating that the cancelled project was part of a broader ambition to diversify the studio’s portfolio. The situation at FuturLab reflects a common challenge in the video game industry: balancing creative ambition with financial viability.
While the cancellation of a long‑running project can be disheartening for the team involved, it also underscores the reality that development costs must be justified by projected returns. For FuturLab, the decision appears to be a strategic pivot, concentrating resources on the sequel that has already built a strong community and revenue stream, while still keeping an eye on future innovations. In summary, FuturLab’s recent staff reductions stem from the termination of a non‑PowerWash project that was deemed financially unsustainable.
Seven employees were let go, with the company opting for careful internal communication strategies—such as avoiding the term "redundancy"—to manage morale. The studio remains committed to delivering PowerWash Simulator 2 and is actively prototyping new ideas for future titles, aiming to broaden its creative horizons while maintaining fiscal prudence.