Miniclip acquires PowerWash Simulator dev FuturLab to expand into PC/console market

Swiss mobile publisher Miniclip has announced a new M&A deal by acquiring UK studio FuturLab best known for its successful sim PowerWash Simulator.

According to a blog post, the FuturLab acquisition took place in March. The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed.

The studio will maintain its creative independence, and Kirsty Rigden will remain CEO of FuturLab.

“We’re proud to say that we are now part of the Miniclip family! It’s exciting for us to charter a course that brings Miniclip into the PC/console space,” Rigden said in a statement. “Followers of the studio will notice not much has changed; we still have autonomy over our studio operations and the games we develop. However, this new security will allow us to bring you many more, great games in the years to come.”

This makes Miniclip’s first large M&A deal since acquiring Subway Surfers developer SYBO in 2022. The company was originally known for browser games hosted on its website, with a global audience of over 250 million monthly active users. However, Miniclip turned to mobile gaming over time, abandoning its  web business in 2022.

It is fair to assume that with FuturLab onboard, the publisher will now also focus on console and PC titles, in addition to its portfolio of successful mobile games such as 8 Ball Pool and Agar.io.

“Our mission to create universally soothing games is in perfect step with Miniclip’s goal to ‘unleash the gamer in everyone,'” the PowerWash Simulator maker said.

Founded in 2003, FuturLab started as a Flash game developer, but then turned to PlayStation to create some titles for PS Vita. The studio gained recognition for the Velocity series, as well as titles like Peaky Blinders Mastermind and Mini-Mech Mayhem. However, its biggest release is PowerWash Simulator, which became a massive success and sold over 3 million copies in just two months after its launch in July 2022.