The developer of PowerWash Simulator has just revealed its third DLC event, an unexpected crossover. While previous entries, such as the Tomb Raider crossover, were undoubtedly weird as well, this one breaks with tradition and brings a franchise that has nothing to do with Square Enix.
PowerWash Simulator is the latest in a steady stream of viral multiplayer indie games released in recent years, and the latest in a growing line of simulator genres. Developed by FuturLab and published by Square Enix Collective, this first-person simulator puts players in control of an anonymous man in a hazmat suit who works odd jobs around the town of Muckington in a fledgling power washing business and earns money to upgrade their equipment, allowing them to Customize the gameplay to your liking. Despite mixed reviews, the game has proven hugely popular, and its developers have worked hard to keep up the momentum with several DLC packs.
FuturLab released a ten-second trailer on its official YouTube channel, revealing that the game’s latest crossover will feature SpongeBob SquarePants, the long-running Nicktoon no stranger to the video game world. Given the first-person perspective, the only visible parts of the campaign are the player’s weapon skin, one of the many gadgets resembling Plankton throughout the show, and the map that takes place in the Bikini Beach housing estate, in Patrick, Squidward’s iconic house And, of course, there’s SpongeBob SquarePants. Other than a vague summer 2023 release date, nothing else has been revealed.
Many fans in the comments seemed excited about the announcement, praising the unpredictability, which was even more unexpected than the Final Fantasy VII crossover. Some said it was enough to get them back in the game, while some jokingly commented on how power washers work underwater, similar to several jokes that have been made in the past and even the show itself. It’s worth noting that some have compared it to the SpongeBob episode “The Reef Blower,” in which SpongeBob tries to clean his lawn with a leaf blower-like contraption, only to accidentally clean up the entire ocean.
DLC crossovers have become a very popular and ingenious trend in the video game industry, allowing for the cross-promotion of multiple franchises in addition to getting said franchises talked about in the public zeitgeist. With FuturLab rolling out new content a while ago and already having a third installment of downloadable content, it’s anyone’s guess what successful features the game will bring next.
PowerWash Simulator is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
