Report: FuturLab Makes Layoffs Following Scrapped Project

Developer FuturLab, best known for PowerWash Simulator, has reportedly laid off seven employees following the cancellation of an unannounced project. According to sources speaking to This Week In Videogames, the scrapped title had been in development for two to three years before being shelved.

Studio CEO Kirsty Rigden confirmed the layoffs in a statement, explaining that the mystery title was a non-PowerWash project that was cancelled during pre-production because it would have cost more to develop than it was projected to earn. Rigden noted that the decision, while difficult and affecting talented staff who had been with the studio for a long time, was made early to protect FuturLab's future.

Sources familiar with the situation alleged that impacted workers were left in limbo after the shelving of the project in June 2026, receiving no assigned work for weeks. Following this, seven employees were reportedly laid off in July. Furthermore, sources claimed that team leads and managers were not informed that their direct reports were going to be away or the reasons behind it.

Later, in August, FuturLab COO Chris Mehers reportedly confirmed that the company had commenced a restructuring process during a company meeting. However, subsequent reports allege that workers were asked to avoid using terms like 'redundancy' and were instead instructed to refer to the laid-off staff as 'the leavers.'