FuturLab has announced a reduction of its workforce, letting go of seven members of its team after the company decided to scrap a development effort that had no direct connection to its flagship title, PowerWash Simulator. The decision, which was communicated by CEO Kirsty Rigden in an interview with This Week in Video Games, stemmed from a financial assessment that the abandoned project would cost more to complete than the revenue it could realistically generate.
Rigden explained that the venture was halted while still in the pre‑production stage because continuing would have been an imprudent use of resources. In the same statement, Rigden reaffirmed FuturLab’s unwavering dedication to delivering the best possible experience with PowerWash Simulator 2, while also emphasizing that the studio continues to experiment with new concepts for future titles.
She noted that this strategic refocus required a careful review of the company’s long‑term plans and staffing needs. "These are incredibly talented individuals, many of whom have been with us for years, and I have a deep appreciation for their contributions," Rigden said. "The decision was painful and far from easy, but making tough choices early helps safeguard FuturLab’s future stability." When pressed about whether the seven departures were formally classified as redundancies, Rigden declined to provide specifics, citing the confidentiality of a legally binding process.
Anonymous sources later told This Week in Video Games that the cancellation of the unnamed project was announced in late June, after two to three years of development work. According to those sources, the project’s staff were left without new assignments for several weeks, creating uncertainty and anxiety within the team. The seven employees who were ultimately let go reportedly received their termination notices in July.
Sources claim that neither managers nor team leads were informed in advance about which of their direct reports would be affected, nor were they given reasons for the sudden departures. In August, a company‑wide meeting was held in which Chief Operating Officer Chris Mehers allegedly described the situation as a restructuring effort. During a follow‑up meeting, employees were instructed to avoid using the term "redundancy" when referring to the departing staff, instead labeling them as "the leavers." According to the same reports, the remaining staff were told that the individuals who left were not required for the development of PowerWash Simulator 2, and that their exit would not impede the game’s progress. Managers and team leads were reportedly excluded from the selection process for the affected employees, a move described as an attempt to shield them from guilt and to reduce the emotional strain on the departing staff, who might otherwise have spent weeks uncertain about their job security.
The broader context of FuturLab’s situation includes previous remarks made by Rigden to GamesIndustry.biz about the studio’s future direction. She highlighted a long‑standing practice of juggling multiple projects simultaneously and hinted at an upcoming, as‑yet‑unnamed game that she is particularly enthusiastic about. "We don’t want to be known solely as a PowerWash studio," she said. "We’re constantly asking ourselves, ‘What else can we create?’" Industry observers note that the decision to cancel a non‑core project while maintaining focus on a successful franchise is a common strategy among mid‑size developers seeking to balance creative ambition with fiscal responsibility.
However, the handling of staff reductions—especially the instruction to avoid the term "redundancy"—has drawn criticism for its lack of transparency and sensitivity. Labor experts point out that such language can obscure the reality of job loss and may complicate employees’ ability to claim appropriate severance or unemployment benefits.
The seven former FuturLab employees, whose identities have not been disclosed, are believed to have contributed to various aspects of the scrapped project, ranging from concept art and design to programming and quality assurance. Their sudden departure underscores the volatility that can accompany early‑stage game development, where projects may be shelved before reaching a stage that guarantees a return on investment. For the remaining staff, the focus now appears to be on delivering PowerWash Simulator 2 on schedule while exploring new ideas that could diversify the studio’s portfolio. The internal restructuring, as described by the COO, suggests a leaner operational model that may involve tighter cross‑functional teams and a more agile development pipeline.
In summary, FuturLab’s recent workforce reduction reflects a strategic pivot away from a costly, non‑core project toward a concentrated effort on its flagship title and future innovations. While the company emphasizes its commitment to quality and creative exploration, the manner in which the layoffs were communicated—particularly the avoidance of the term "redundancy"—has sparked debate about best practices in employee relations within the gaming industry.