The PowerWash simulator is no stranger to exotic locations, but this latest addition takes over. In the upcoming free DLC, PowerWash enthusiasts will now be able to clean up Croft Manor – a well-remembered location from the classic Tomb Raider series.
Square Enix Collective and FuturLab have teamed up in an unexpected move to bring a special Tomb Raider bundle to PowerWash Simulator. The January 31st release of the DLC is free and will take you back to a version of Croft Manor reminiscent of the PS1 days. The DLC arrives on the same day that PowerWash Simulator is set to release on PS5 and PS4, and celebrates the game’s debut on Sony’s consoles.
As you might guess, the old mansion has had a major facelift since the early Tomb Raider games. FuturLab has rendered the mansion with modern graphics, so say goodbye to the old blocky polygons from Tomb Raider’s past. However, Croft Manor has become completely filthy in the last few years. That’s where you come in, armed with your blue suit and a pressurized washing machine at the ready.
Clean the house
Croft Manor is not just any building; holds a special place in Tomb Raider history. Already in Tomb Raider 2, the mansion became a fully explorable location, full of Easter eggs and stories about the environment.
Whether you played Tomb Raider 2 on PS1 or on your school PC, you can explore the treasures in the basement, the mansion’s ballroom, training grounds, Lara’s kitchen and bedroom. It was early days, but the immersive 3D environment went a long way in fleshing out and contextualizing Lara’s story and her place within the larger narrative.
Croft Manor is also famous for its Easter eggs, many of which involve Lara’s long-suffering butler, Winston. In Tomb Raider 2, players could trick him into venturing into the basement freezer before locking him up there. In Tomb Raider 3, a poor ghost volunteered to practice shooting at Lara’s shooting range. While we don’t know if Winston will appear in DLC, FuturLab has promised in blog post (opens in a new tab) that there will be plenty of “secrets hidden in the dirt” for fans to find on their cleaning adventures.
It is a pleasure to return to this classic place, albeit in a completely different way. This unexpected but welcome DLC made me think about all the other ways new perspectives could breathe life into classic video game locations.
What if Peach’s castle from Mario 64 appeared in a game about ice skating? Imagine all the sick tricks you can pull off with the brilliant verticality of the central world. What if the XCOM underground base was transformed from an anti-alien base to a rave hall for a dance game? Think cool, futuristic lighting.
The DLC where you can clean Croft Manor with a washcloth is pretty lame, but it reminds me how fun it can be to enjoy a beloved set in a completely different way. It allows for an experience that, in addition to soothing nostalgia, also offers something truly new and exciting for players