PowerWash Simulator News

Hey everyone - welcome to dev log 64!

Last week, we celebrated the launch of PowerWash Simulator 1.0, you can read more on that here: https://steamcommunity.com/games/1290000/announcements/detail/3421064519320020730

This week, we're diving into the narrative of PowerWash Simulator and are joined by Mark Ginbey, the writer of the story behind the mysteries in Muckingham.



We've been watching everyone's reactions to the end of PowerWash Simulator's main career mode closely! (more content will drop in the future) There's definitely a lot like these:





It's been a pleasure to be subverting people's expectations of story in a sim game, but we are so happy that it is paying off! Internally, once there was a Game Theorists video on PowerWash Simulator's lore, we knew we were onto a winner!

Also, please no spoilers but let us know what you thought of it in the comments below!

If you haven't finished, we highly recommend sticking around until after the credits!

With that, let's hand over to the writer of the background narrative, Mark Ginbey:

Originally posted by Mark

Hello clean machines, Mark here, writer for PowerWash Simulator, with a few words about its lore.
When FuturLab‘s producer Toby first asked if I’d be interested in writing for a power wash game and finished his pitch with ‘it ends with you washing down grubby, [final job – no spoilers],’ I knew it was going to be my kind of project. If there’s one enemy that’s been consistently overlooked by games, it’s dirt. It unites us all, and it must be stopped.

The design team already had a strong idea of the jobs they wanted; they just required a few narrative elements to help tie them together. Development Director Kirsty Rigden was keen for the game to include more unusual and fantastical places to clean, and that was the launchpad for the entire tone of PWS. FuturLab didn’t want a bunch of unrelated jobs, but something with more soul, placing the player at the heart of a community. It helped the jobs to feel like they had real value within the world, which it seems is something people weren’t expecting, but which helped make it feel special.

The game is built on its mechanics, and the team have done a phenomenal job with it. We all know that cleaning an object that’s absolutely caked in cack is instinctively satisfying. But breaking down something that initially appears overwhelming into smaller, manageable units, giving a framework to personal progress, is a quite profoundly beautiful paradigm that can be applied to any area of your life, especially in these uncertain times.

From a writing point of view, because the game mechanics were front and centre, people were free to embrace or ignore any narrative elements, allowing us take it anywhere, really. We tried to ground it with personal stories, and then have fun with characters with unusual motivations. I’ve always loved stories that start small and gradually get bigger, and hopefully there’s some sense of this here.
All story in games is collaborative. It’s always great to see designers and artists transform your budding ideas into great story elements. For example, a mayor’s cat goes missing – that might have something. But when every job you do has pawprints running through it, and there are missing cat posters everywhere, suddenly the idea springs to life, and a mystery emerges that can run through the entire story.

It's been an absolute joy working on a project that’s had such a positive impact on its community, and it’s been great to see some of the lore theories that have been bouncing around. Hopefully, there’s lots more to come. In the meantime, keep it clean, y’all.

CAKE!



All of FuturLab gathered in sunny Brighton to have cake, celebrate PowerWash Simulator's launch and have lots of drinks! Thanks for giving us something to celebrate!



We don't have a 'Meme Monday' to share this week, so, instead here's a community creation we love! WARNING, it contains spoilers but ties into the dev log really well!



Art by Steam user: Kafkaesque




Sorry this week's installment is late, I, Josh, the community gnome was off sick, but hope everyone enjoyed a Monday rendition of our weekly log! There should be another this Friday.

We continue to be mind blown at the response we're getting to launch, thanks again to everyone for the amazing feedback and reviews.

Until next time!

Keep up with everything PowerWash Simulator by following our channels:

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/powerwashsimulator
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PowerWashSim
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/futurlab
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@powerwashsim?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerwashsim/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powerwashsim
PWS Wiki: https://powerwash-simulator.fandom.com/wiki/PowerWash_Simulator_Wiki

Hey everyone - welcome to dev log 63!

Last week, we launched PowerWash Simulator. No biggie, right? Just kidding, it was massive for us. If you do want to get the clean down on all of the details on 1.0, you can read them here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1290000/view/6173889246015647272

This week, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone in the community for making our launch incredible!



The dev team here at FuturLab couldn't be happier with the response at launch and are still honestly stunned by how far we have gotten! From taking over Steam itself on launch day (yes, this happened) to so many of you playing at once over 9000 (actually over 10,000) here on Steam!



Thanks to everyone for your support along the way! We hope we have met your expectations in our Early Access because you all have blown us away with the amount of constructive feedback, suggestions, and comments you've given us. We want to think the game is better for it; what do you all think? Does anyone remember the first patch?

This past week we've been eagerly watching and digesting comments on the career mode story's conclusion! Which is another thing we're happy (and relieved about) in response to the last level, credits, and after-credits scene! (NO SPOILERS, FOLKS!) To quote one of our Directors, James:

Originally posted by James

[We are] delighted for all the right reasons that we can make our players cry.

If you look in the Steam art section, there's a fantastic art piece by Kafkaesque if you have already gotten to the end!


We just ran a quick stream this week decompressing on launch, taking questions, and talking about the future here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1539370352

On the topic of answering questions, we also ran an AMA on Reddit where several devs took time out of their busy schedules to answer questions directly if you missed it: https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/vy3v3k/were_futurlab_developers_of_powerwash_simulator/



This isn't the end of PowerWash Simulator, and we're already working on more content but aren't ready to share more yet! While the main career is over, this isn't the last story to be told in PWS!

If you took a look into Uncanny Franny's crystal ball, what level would you like to see in the future?

Steam Trading Cards are also coming. We wanted to have them in at launch but will let everyone know when they are live.

We are also collaborating with Oxford University on a study of video games and players' mental health. We have had a developer dedicated to this and are excited to reveal more very soon! Keep your eyes out on Steam.



We hope the launch has been as good for you as it has been for us and that you'll stick around for the next chapter for PWS!

Until next time!

Thank you to everyone for reading; see you next week. :)

Keep up with everything PowerWash Simulator by following our channels:

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/powerwashsimulator
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PowerWashSim
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/futurlab
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@powerwashsim?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerwashsim/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powerwashsim
PWS Wiki: https://powerwash-simulator.fandom.com/wiki/PowerWash_Simulator_Wiki

PowerWash Simulator 1.0 is finally here! 🎉

After just over a year in early access, we are so happy to finally bring you the full release of PowerWash Simulator!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

The community has been a massive part of this game from the get-go. Whether you're a casual cleaner, a dedicated detailer, or a dirt-artist – the PowerWash Simulator team would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for engaging with us and embracing our game!
As well as all the super-satisfying content already packed into the game, the full release includes:
💼 4 new Career Mode jobs
🚿 1 new nozzle
🛩️ Stunt Plane and Fire Truck Challenges
✨ 3 Pro Washer Skins
🏆 Achievements

Alongside this, various improvements have been made for the ultimate soothing powerwashing experience:

• Fixed numerous potential crashes related to multiplayer with 3+ players transitioning between jobs
  
• Fixed desynchronization issues in multiplayer
  
• Wash data transfer between players reduced
  
• Free Play and Special modes will now only allow a single level in progress and single timelapse to be stored at any single point (This should help with Steam Cloud Syncing issues. Our save files were just too big!)
  
• Load time when launching the app considerable improved
  
• Performance improvements
  
• Controller vibration option added
  
• Japanese font & text updates
  
• Many multiplayer stability improvements
  
• Subtask price and threshold changes on various levels
  
• Balls added to the Minigolf job (par-tee time!)
  
• Urban X colour changes
  
• Many minor UI bug fixes
  

Reset subtasks:
We also really wanted to preserve players save data this time and didn't want to do any auto-complete. However, any levels-in-progress which you are carrying into 1.0 from an Early Access release will have the dirt on partially-completed subtasks reset. This will ensure there are no save clashes and you don't get stuck on an uncleanable object. Sorry for the slight inconvenience!

We have a list of known issues and workarounds for 1.0 here.

We know that powerwashing tycoons like you are always looking to the next big job... Never fear, this is not the end of your powerwashing career! We're not ready to share it all yet but are already working on new content for the game - check out our socials to stay in the loop.

But for now, your powerwashing destiny awaits... ready, set... WASH!💦

If you want to join the discussion, vote on jobs, share your ideas and talk to the devs, join our Discord: https://discord.com/invite/powerwashsimulator

Keep up with everything PowerWash Simulator by following our channels:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PowerWashSim
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/futurlab
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@powerwashsim?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerwashsim/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powerwashsim
PWS Wiki: https://powerwash-simulator.fandom.com/wiki/PowerWash_Simulator_Wiki

If the word "simulator" in PowerWash Simulator puts you off, please don't let it. Where other simulators double down on the minutiae surrounding the thing you're meant to be doing, that they put you off the thing you're meant to be doing, PowerWash Sim understands that you just want to rid surfaces of grime in the most satisfying way possible. You do not need to prize open your powerwasher with a tri-wing screwdriver or manage your finances via a convoluted banking app or determine whether a kitchen sink delivers enough pressure. Instead, you wash things with power: you power wash. You wash, powerfully.

After a year in early access, the game's launching in full with a variety of modes and I cannot stress enough how stress-less the experience is. This is a first-person soother you'll either think is an absolute bore or the best kind of meditative chore.

Read more

Hey everyone - welcome to dev log 62!

Last week, we whipped out our magnifying glasses to try and figure out which new jobs are coming with launch! https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1290000?emclan=103582791467159006&emgid=3330989990406979955

As for this week...

Jess here, fellow Marketing Gnome at FuturLab!



I have popped on here to give you a behind-the-scenes low-down of our recent IRL washing event that took place on Tuesday – where RTGame, Kiwo & Lolipopgi made some big PWS announcements, gave away some cool prizes and got to grips with power washing. Okay, well maybe that last one is up for interpretation, but two out of three ain't bad!



I boarded a train and headed down to set first thing on Tuesday morning (that gap between the platform edge and the train is so much bigger when you’re a gnome!) Four separate areas had been meticulously curated and arranged by the art team – before being absolutely caked in filth… must be how our devs feel.



RTGame, Kiwo and LolipopGi all arrived looking absolutely dashing – then we popped them into the ultra-glamourous PWS boilersuits 🤭 Powerwashing is mucky business.



I think it is fairly accurate to say that power washing chaos ensued. Throughout the course of the stream, we learned that PowerWash Simulator:

• Is launching July 14th on Xbox platforms; alongside the full release on Steam (that means cross-play, folks!)
  
• Is way more satisfying than real-life Power Washing 😜
  
• Is better for your back!

**No mannequins were harmed during the production of this stream** Oh wait, what am I talking about? They absolutely were. Poor Jerry.





Oh no, I think we broke Kiwo >.<

6 DAYS TO GO!💦

P.S. Just wanted to let you all know that I’ve peeped the achievement list and it’s amazing. I couldn’t possibly reveal any, but let’s just say that some feature my gnomely compatriots.


Must dash, there are wheelbarrows to push…

Until next time!

Thank you to everyone for reading. We hope everyone is enjoying the new content and these insights! :)

Keep up with everything PowerWash Simulator by following our channels:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PowerWashSim
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/futurlab
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@powerwashsim?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerwashsim/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powerwashsim
PWS Wiki: https://powerwash-simulator.fandom.com/wiki/PowerWash_Simulator_Wiki