Report: FuturLab lays off devs without informing team leads or managers
FuturLab, the developer known for PowerWash Simulator, has laid off seven employees following the cancellation of an undisclosed project that had been in development for two to three years. CEO Kirsty Rigden confirmed the decision was made during pre-production after determining the project would cost significantly more than projected revenue.
In a statement to This Week in Video Games, Rigden justified the cancellation as a necessary business decision, stating it “wouldn’t have been a sensible decision” to continue development. She emphasized that the studio remains “fully committed to making [PowerWash Simulator 2] the best game it can be, while prototyping new ideas for future games.”
According to sources, the handling of the layoffs drew criticism from staff. Employees were reportedly instructed not to use the term “redundancy” and instead refer to those affected as “the leavers.” Additionally, sources indicate that affected staff were “left hanging with no new work being assigned” before the official announcement, and that team leads and managers were apparently not informed prior to the layoffs.
The cancellation represents part of a broader restructuring process at FuturLab as the studio realigns its priorities around PowerWash Simulator 2 and future projects. The unrevealed nature of the cancelled project means details about what was being developed remain unclear.