FuturLab has recently announced a reduction in its staff numbers, with seven members of the team being let go after the company decided to cancel a project 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 necessary business move to protect the studio’s long‑term health. Rigden explained that the cancelled undertaking 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 been a sensible decision," she said, emphasizing that the studio had to act responsibly with its resources. While the scrapped project will not see the light of day, Rigden reassured fans and investors that FuturLab remains fully committed to delivering the best possible experience for PowerWash Simulator 2.
She added that the studio continues to prototype fresh ideas for future titles, a process that inevitably requires a periodic review of staffing needs and strategic priorities. The CEO expressed genuine remorse over the layoffs, describing the affected individuals as "super talented" and noting that many had been with the company for a considerable period. "This was not an easy or quick decision to make, but by making difficult decisions early we protect FuturLab in the future," Rigden said, underscoring the delicate balance between caring for employees and safeguarding the business.
When pressed about whether the seven workers were dismissed through a formal redundancy process, Rigden declined to provide further specifics, citing confidentiality and legal constraints surrounding the matter. This lack of detail has fueled speculation among industry observers. According to anonymous sources speaking to This Week in Video Games, the cancellation of the side project was first announced by Rigden in late June.
The venture, which had reportedly been under development for two to three years, was abruptly halted, leaving the team working on it without any new assignments for several weeks. Sources claim that the seven employees who were ultimately let go were officially made redundant in July, and that their direct managers and team leads were not informed in advance about who would be affected or the reasons behind the decision. Further reports indicate that in August the studio held a meeting in which COO Chris Mehers described the situation as a restructuring effort. During a subsequent gathering, staff were instructed to avoid using the term "redundancy" when referring to the departing colleagues, instead labeling them as "the leavers." This linguistic guidance appears to have been part of an attempt to soften the impact of the layoffs on morale and public perception.
Employees were also told that the individuals who were leaving would not be required for the development of PowerWash Simulator 2, and that their exit would not jeopardize the upcoming game’s timeline or quality. Some insiders suggest that managers and team leads were deliberately excluded from the selection process for the affected staff, a move intended to shield them from guilt and to reduce the emotional strain on the departing workers, who might otherwise have endured weeks of uncertainty regarding their job security. The situation at FuturLab reflects a broader trend in the games industry, where studios often juggle multiple projects simultaneously to diversify their portfolios and reduce reliance on a single hit title. In a prior interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Rigden spoke about the studio’s ambition to work on more than one game at a time, mentioning that another, yet‑to‑be‑named project was already generating excitement among the team.
"We don’t want to just be a PowerWash studio… we’re always thinking about, ‘What else could we do?’" she said. While the cancellation of the non‑PowerWash project and the subsequent staff reductions are undoubtedly setbacks, FuturLab’s leadership appears determined to press forward with its core franchise while continuing to explore new concepts.
The company’s commitment to prototyping suggests that future announcements may soon follow, potentially offering fresh experiences that expand beyond the familiar cleaning‑sim gameplay. In summary, FuturLab’s recent workforce reduction stems from a strategic decision to halt a costly, under‑performing project in its early stages. Seven employees were let go, and the studio has taken steps to manage the narrative around the layoffs, including avoiding the term "redundancy" and framing the departures as a restructuring measure.
The CEO and COO have emphasized that the move is intended to protect the studio’s long‑term viability and to keep PowerWash Simulator 2 on track, while also hinting at upcoming, undisclosed projects that could broaden the studio’s creative horizons.