FuturLab

FuturLab is an award-winning video game development studio based in Brighton, UK, that has been creating games since 2003. The company operates on a remote-first basis and is known for its people-first, no-crunch approach to development. Originally founded by James Marsden, who retired in late 2023 to pursue his passion for music, the studio is now led by CEO Kirsty Rigden, who has been with the company since 2010. Marsden remains on the board as a Founding Chairman.

The studio initially created Flash games before gaining recognition with its critically acclaimed *Velocity* series, which includes the award-winning titles *Velocity Ultra* and *Velocity 2X*. These games combined top-down shoot 'em up action with puzzle-platforming elements. However, FuturLab achieved widespread commercial success with the 2022 release of *PowerWash Simulator*, a simulation game focused on the simple, relaxing satisfaction of cleaning. Published by Square Enix, this hit game has propelled the studio's focus towards pioneering a new genre of 'frictionless fun' and 'soothing games' designed to be low-stress yet compelling. A sequel, *PowerWash Simulator 2*, is in development.

FuturLab's business model revolves around developing and selling its own intellectual property on platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC (via Steam). The company has a diverse portfolio that also includes the VR tabletop strategy game *Mini-Mech Mayhem* and the puzzle game *Peaky Blinders: Mastermind*. With a team of over 100 employees and an estimated annual revenue of $15 million, the studio has garnered numerous industry awards, including Best Indie Studio and Best UK Developer.

Keywords: video game development, PowerWash Simulator, Velocity 2X, indie game studio, console games, PC gaming, remote-first studio, simulation games, shoot 'em up, puzzle platformer, Kirsty Rigden, James Marsden, Square Enix, satisfying games, relaxing games, no-crunch, Brighton UK, VR games, Mini-Mech Mayhem, Peaky Blinders Mastermind