PowerWash Simulator News

Hey everyone,

This week is our 18th Birthday as a studio, so from everyone here at FuturLab, we invite you to celebrate with us!



In the last toilet humor-filled dev log, we covered the Washroom job that came with 0.6; take a flush and read that here: https://steamcommunity.com/games/1290000/announcements/detail/3069759028627492491

[h2]PowerWash Simulator[/h2]

Birthday Gnome

We'd like to thank everyone for helping us make PowerWash Simulator such a great success, and we haven't even fully launched yet! Fantastic feedback continues to pour in and allows us to shape the game to be the best it can be. Even now, we have come a long way since the Early Access launch with many new quality of life features and content. Though it's now clear the feel-good nature of the game has really resonated with people!

Our developers are constantly delighted by checking the review score on Steam and seeing it is still soaring in the high 90s! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to give us a review; it really is such an honor.

We don't have anything to tease just yet but don't worry, we've got some great surprises coming in 0.7!

[h2]Develop Awards[/h2]

Last week we were at the Develop: Star Awards, which celebrate the best games and talent in the UK. This year, we were privileged to be nominated in 3 categories: Best Original IP with PowerWash Simulator, Best Studio as FuturLab, and Tomorrow's Star with our Community Manager.

Although we didn't come away with any prizes, it was incredible to be on the pedestal with other amazing games and studios. Congratulations to smash hit Fall Guys for winning Best Original IP and Sumo Digital for taking the studio spot. Fingers crossed that we'll be back next year!



[h2]FuturLab Bank Holiday [/h2]

Sorry that there wasn't a dev log or stream last week; internally, our studio now takes the Friday off during every October half term to celebrate our Birthday! Our very own FuturLab Friday, if you will!

You can catch this week's stream here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1196662287

[h2]Grads In Games[/h2]



As a studio, we know how important it is to foster new talent coming into the games industry, so this year we've partnered with Grads in Games to help guide new graduates and ultimately hope to take some on as FuturLab team members. We have been part of similar programs before and even have development superstars that are still with us! You can read our announcement on that here: https://gradsingames.com/news/futurlab-joins-grads-in-games-studio-partner/

One of our designers, who you may have seen regularly featured in these dev logs, Nick, has given a live Q&A to over 200 students via the program. They were surprised at how interested they were in the everyday tasks in the role but were delighted to delve into the often unspoken parts of work in games

[h2]Party Time[/h2]

We celebrated our 18th Birthday in style with our Back To The Futur party; current and previous employees from over the 18 years of the studio were invited to sunny Brighton to celebrate. With PowerWash Simulator play stations, gnome cakes, and lots of fun, it was great to celebrate the studio's journey together.



[h2]We're Growing[/h2]

It's also been an excellent year for growth at the studio, reaching over 40 employees. This is the most people the studio has ever employed - all of our new starters have been hired and started remotely, which has been a real challenge, but thanks to our small but excellent team, our new employees have been onboarded smoothly.

We still have roles available, and you can check to see if something relevant to you comes up here: https://futurlab.co.uk/jobs/

Thanks for reading this celebratory dev log, sorry there are no teasers in this week's log. However, don't miss our next one because we'll be revealing the addition of one of the most requested quality of life features coming in 0.7!

We'll see you there.


If you want to vote on new game ideas, talk to the community, find some tough dirt - then join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/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

Hey everyone!

Update 0.6 splash landed last week and with it we made history - the ability to powerwash a toilet! Join us in this week's dev log, to flush out the rest of the new Washroom job and how it was made!

If you want to read deeper into everything that was added with the last update you can find the notes here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1290000/announcements/detail/3037106652633056669

We're not ready to tease the next update yet but keep an eye on our socials and here for when those spoilers eventually do flow!



We'd also quickly like to thank everyone for their amazing steam reviews and that we're truly honored we've hit 99% positive on the recent reviews. It has blown us all away!



Today we have some insights on the new job for its design and art directly from the developers. So far, the feedback has majoritively been that people have loved the level and hopefully it has hit the satisfaction level we were aiming for!

Torger worked on the art direction for the level and the dirt being applied to it. Here are some of their thoughts on the art process:

Originally posted by Torger

The underground Washroom was an interesting job as our first interior. We wanted to retain the sense of wash satisfaction, but knew we would have less direct sunlight to work with to create a bright and inviting space. It was important the space appeared well-lit and appealing despite being located underground. We chose a primarily blue, white, and cream color palette that would feel clean and hygienic, with some added orange accents for a visually appealing contrast. We introduced a lot of bounced lighting from the ceiling windows to fill the space with light. We had to strike a balance between brightness that would contrast with the dirt, while still maintaining the artistic impact of the lighting. While value contrast is important to our game, we felt that the visual appeal of the cleaned space is equally important in creating pleasing contrast between dirty and clean.

For the dirt we used black, along with dirty yellows and greens, to contrast the clean space in hue as well as value. The dirt application for this scene was another area where we had to find a careful balance. We had to create a properly dirty space that would bring contrast and wash satisfaction to the scene, without making it feel too gross for players. This is the reason the toilet bowls themselves are relatively clean.

Overall we were very pleased with the art in this level, and we're glad players seem to be enjoying it too.

It was a challenge for us to tread the line between making sure the level was dirty enough to give the contrast for satisfying cleaning but also not to be too disgusting. For, well, obvious reasons. We don't want to dump too much into that.



Moving on! Nick worked on the design side of the level and had this to say:

[Quote] The Washroom is our first full interior job and is undoubtedly one of the dirtiest places in the game thus far. We knew it had a certain 'shock value' to it which we tried to amplify by starting players in a relatively clean tunnel so when they walk around the corner they can be surprised by the true extent and depth of the dirt here.

Our main objective with any dirt design is to create as much of a contrast as possible between the dirt on top and what's underneath. We selected dark dirt types like mold, grime, and mud to compliment the white and blue tiles, walls, and fixtures of the Washroom. We also worked with the art team to ensure that the surfaces throughout this space were as bright and reflective as realistically possible for maximum washing satisfaction when they are revealed.

We hope players enjoy powering through this one to discover the beautiful, pristine Washroom hidden beneath years of muck and abandonment.



Let us know all of your thoughts on the new level in the comments section below!

[h3]Until Next Time...[/h3]

Lots is going on behind the scenes and we can't wait to share what is next! Though, the time for that is not today. We look forward to seeing you all again in next week's dev log! No spoilers.

If you want to vote on new game ideas, talk to the community, find some tough dirt - then join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/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

Hey everyone!

Welcome to content patch 0.6 which adds more things to wash, including the first indoor non-vehicle wash. Plus, new challenges, skins, and more!



[h2]New features:[/h2]

[h3]Four new Career Mode jobs - Frolic Boat, Wash Room, Helter Skelter, and Private Jet.[/h3]



[h3]Water and Time challenges for Golf Cart & Bungalow levels[/h3]



[h3]Two new glove skins[/h3]



[h3]New Skins for the Prime Vista 1500 & Urban X U2 powerwashers
[/h3]



[h2]Fixes[/h2]

• Collision improvements
  
• Legacy mode performance improvements
  

Thank you all for playing and for your feedback so far. We hope you’ll all enjoy the new content and we can’t wait to start teasing what’s in store for the next update!

[h3]Until Next Time...[/h3]

That's all for this update, please let us know all of your thoughts on the new content, here, on our Discord, or on our socials! Also, this counts as our weekly dev log, we'll be back with another instalment next week!

Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/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

Hey everyone!

Flying into update 0.6 is our second air vehicle - the Private Jet! ! This follows last week’s nautical dev log about the Frolic Boat here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/1290000/announcements/detail/2908753426127692498

We're aiming to release Update 0.6 very soon! Keep your eyes on the Steam skies for when it makes its fly-by!





A mysterious customer has called upon your services once again. This time for an extremely dirty jet plane!



This is also the introduction to your new space, the hangar.



We're going to keep very quiet about lore implications and let the speculations be squarely in your, the community's court!



What is that?

Anyway, this was a very short preview, we don't want to spoil too much when we're close to the next update. Though, be sure to give us your opinions on the thoroughly dirty Private Jet in the comments section below.





These 2 washer skins coming in the next update the Retro (Urban X U2) and Space Cadet (Prime Vista 1500). These are to use in the challenge modes, personal challenges, special missions, and generally for newer players in career mode as they are very affordable.



Will you be purchasing them?

[h3]Until Next Time...[/h3]

0.6 is getting close, don't miss it touching down on the Steam runway very soon!

If you want to vote on new game ideas, talk to the community, find some tough dirt - then join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/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

It’s World Mental Health Day on 10th October, so this week, we’re partnering with Better Health - Every Mind Matters, to encourage more discussion around mental health and the little things we can all do to make a big difference to how we’re feeling.

We all know it’s been a tough 18 months, most of us battling through as well as we can, but during all the chaos, it’s important to take a minute to reflect on how we’re doing and ask ourselves, “how have I been feeling lately?”.

Enter Every Mind Matters, a mental health and wellbeing campaign that encourages you to create a free, NHS-approved ‘Mind Plan’ that can provide you with tips to help deal with stress and anxiety, boost your mood, sleep better, and feel more in control. To find out more, search Every Mind Matters or visit the website here for practical tips and expert advice to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.

That’s not all! We will have a special FuturLab Friday live stream on Friday 8th October, 3pm BST, as part of Ukie’s Play & Talk Weekend. We’ll be showing a sneak peek of the next PowerWash Simulator update and pointing you towards more helpful resources for World Mental health Day.