PowerWash Simulator Developer FuturLab Cuts Staff After Cancelling Unannounced Game
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
PowerWash Simulator developer FuturLab laid off seven staff members earlier this year following the cancellation of an unannounced project. Studio leadership stated the cuts were necessary to protect the company, while assuring fans that work on PowerWash Simulator 2 will continue as planned.
According to a report by Rock Paper Shotgun, FuturLab quietly laid off seven employees earlier this year following the cancellation of an unannounced project that had been in development for several years. Sources indicated that work on the cancelled title was halted back in June after leadership determined the game would not be financially viable. Studio CEO Kirsty Rigden confirmed the cuts in a statement, explaining that the difficult decision was made to protect the studio and ensure resources remain focused on upcoming projects.
The restructuring process drew internal criticism over how leadership communicated the changes. Reports from team meetings noted that management discouraged the use of the term redundancy, instructing remaining staff to refer to affected colleagues as leavers instead. Despite the quiet handling of the situation, leadership assured the team that work on PowerWash Simulator 2 remains unaffected and moving forward as planned.
Situations like this highlight the ongoing instability facing mid-sized development studios, even those behind major hits. While management framed the preemptive cancellation as a necessary step for studio survival, the human cost remains high for the talented developers who lost their positions. As the industry continues to navigate economic pressures, our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the recent changes at FuturLab.
Tags: Industry News, FuturLab, PowerWash Simulator, Game Development, Layoffs
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun