In a move that marks the end of a significant publishing partnership, developer FuturLab has announced the upcoming removal of two major licensed downloadable content packs for the original PowerWash Simulator. The Final Fantasy VII Remake and Tomb Raider DLCs will be delisted from all digital storefronts on May 19, coinciding with the studio’s formal separation from publisher Square Enix. This article details the specifics of the content removal, explores the reasons behind the concluded partnership, and explains what this means for current and future owners of these popular add-ons.
The Delisting Details: What’s Being Removed and When
On May 19, 2026, two themed DLC packs for PowerWash Simulator will become unavailable for purchase. These are the Midgar Special Pack, based on Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 Details Revealed: Highwind Exploration, Wutai Expansion, and Classic Locations Return”>Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 Details Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 Details Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 Details Highwind Exploration, Wutai Expansion, and Classic Locations Return”>Highwind Exploration, Wutai Expansion, and Classic Locations Return”>Revealed: Highwind Exploration, Wutai Expansion, and Classic Locations Return”>Revealed: Highwind Exploration, Wutai Expansion, and Classic Locations Return”>Revealed: Highwind Exploration, Wutai Expansion, and Classic Locations Return”>Fantasy VII Remake, and the Tomb Raider Special Pack. The removal applies across all platforms where the game is available: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The decision is a direct result of the concluded licensing agreement between FuturLab and Square Enix, the holder of the intellectual property rights for both franchises.
Protection for Existing Owners
A critical point of clarity from FuturLab’s announcement is that this is a delisting, not a deletion. Any player who has already purchased or claimed either DLC pack will retain permanent access to that content. The games will remain fully playable in their libraries after May 19. Furthermore, both add-ons are currently free to claim until the delisting date, offering a final opportunity for players to secure this legacy content at no cost.
A Closer Look at the Departing DLC Packs
For the uninitiated, these DLCs represent some of the most creatively themed content in PowerWash Simulator, blending the game’s serene cleaning mechanics with iconic gaming landmarks.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake: Midgar Special Pack
This pack transports the high-pressure washer to the gritty, industrial world of Midgar. Players can tackle five specific jobs, each dripping with franchise nostalgia. The cleaning roster includes the formidable Scorpion Sentinel boss mech, a bulky Shinra Hauler truck, and Cloud Strife’s iconic Daytona Hauler motorbike. The challenging Airbuster enemy also awaits a thorough scrubbing, while the interior of Tifa Lockhart’s Seventh Heaven bar presents a more intimate but equally satisfying cleaning challenge, allowing players to restore the beloved haunt to its former glory.
The Tomb Raider Special Pack
This add-on invites players to the sprawling estate of adventurer Lara Croft. The cleaning focus shifts to aristocratic upkeep, with three primary locations. The majestic exterior of Croft Manor offers a vast canvas for grime removal, while Lara’s personal boat requires meticulous attention. Inside the manor, the artifact display rooms provide a more precise task, challenging players to carefully clean ancient relics and their cases without causing any archaeological damage—effectively acting as an unpaid, yet zen-like, butler for the famed explorer.
The End of the Square Enix Partnership
The delisting is a procedural footnote to a larger strategic shift for FuturLab. PowerWash Simulator’s origins are deeply tied to Square Enix, having been initially nurtured under the publisher’s Collective program. This initiative was designed to support independent developers by providing publishing resources and market visibility. For FuturLab, this collaboration was instrumental in the game’s early success and development.
A Collaborative but Transitional Relationship
FuturLab leadership has consistently described the relationship with Square Enix as positive and highly collaborative. In interviews, CEO Kirsty Rigden noted that Square Enix allowed the studio significant autonomy, particularly in marketing, where FuturLab’s deep understanding of their unique game proved invaluable. Square Enix’s role was to amplify these efforts and provide support where needed. However, from the outset, FuturLab’s long-term ambition was always to transition to full self-publishing. The end of the relationship, while significant, is not a dramatic fallout but rather the planned culmination of a successful incubation period.
PowerWash Simulator 2 and FuturLab’s Independent Future
The success of the first PowerWash Simulator provided FuturLab with the capital, experience, and industry credibility to realize its self-publishing goal. The studio directly published PowerWash Simulator 2 in October 2025. The lessons learned in partnership with Square Enix Collective, combined with the unexpected viral popularity of the cleaning simulator genre, gave FuturLab the confidence to control its own destiny. This move has proven successful; the sequel was nominated for two prestigious BAFTA awards—Best Family Game and Best British Game—firmly establishing FuturLab as a capable and independent force in the gaming industry.
Licensing Lessons and Content Legacy
The situation with the delisting DLC underscores a common reality in games featuring licensed cross-over content: such additions are often temporary fixtures in a game’s digital storefront, existing only for the duration of a contractual agreement. While functionally separate from the core game, they become cherished pieces of gaming history for those who acquire them. FuturLab’s handling of the removal—providing clear advance notice and ensuring permanent access for existing owners—is considered a best-practice approach for mitigating player disappointment when such licensing deals inevitably conclude.
The removal of the Final Fantasy VII and Tomb Raider DLC from PowerWash Simulator is more than a simple content update; it is a tangible milestone in FuturLab’s evolution from a developer reliant on external publishing support to a fully self-sufficient studio. While these specific themed packs will soon fade from storefronts, their legacy is secured for players who claimed them, and the path they helped pave is clear. The studio’s journey, facilitated by Square Enix and ultimately leading to the acclaimed, self-published sequel, demonstrates a successful blueprint for indie growth, even as it necessitates saying goodbye to some virtuously cleaned virtual landmarks.
