PowerWash Simulator Players Can Assist Mental Health Research

PowerWash Simulator players can now help researchers understand the impact games—at least those in which people use virtual pressure washers to clean stuff—have on mental health.

The game’s developer, FuturLab, says in a Steam update(Opens in a new window) that it’s partnered with researchers from the Oxford Internet Institute at Oxford University on what it calls “a one-of-a-kind anonymous research study centered around the well-being of PowerWash Simulator’s players” that “also aims to deliver insights into the larger discourse of gaming and mental health.”

The study is being conducted via a dedicated branch of PowerWash Simulator known as the Research Edition. This version of the simulation game is restricted to English speakers, doesn’t support multiplayer game modes, and features a new character through which the researchers will be able to ask players “extremely short” questions about their experience.

FuturLab says PowerWash Simulator Research Edition also collects “metrics for player progression, shop purchases, general gameplay activities, etc.” that will be anonymous and de-identified. That information will be accessible to the company and the researchers alike. FuturLab says it won’t have access to answers provided in response to researchers’ questions.

The developer notes that progress in the main version of PowerWash Simulator won’t carry over to the Research Edition. Players who participate in the study will receive exclusive in-game items, however, and those cosmetics will carry over to the main game. Information about participating in this study, returning to the main game, etc. is available via FuturLab’s website(Opens in a new window).

FuturLab says it plans to make the Research Edition of PowerWash Simulator available until at least Nov. 18, but it hasn’t decided exactly how long players will be able to participate in the study.