Rebellion, the developer behind the critically acclaimed British survival game Atomfall, has announced that the title became "immediately profitable" upon its release on March 27, 2025, across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Despite a significant portion of its 2 million players accessing the game through Xbox Game Pass without purchasing it outright, Atomfall managed to recoup its development costs right out of the gate.
While specific sales figures for Atomfall remain undisclosed, Rebellion has highlighted that this game marks their biggest launch to date in terms of player engagement. The inclusion on Xbox Game Pass has undeniably played a role in this success, allowing subscribers to easily try out the game on both Xbox and PC platforms.
In discussions with The Game Business, Rebellion revealed that Atomfall's post-apocalyptic setting in northern England resonated strongly with players, leading to the game's immediate profitability. Moving forward, the studio is exploring opportunities for sequels or spin-offs while continuing to support Atomfall with ongoing post-launch content and DLC.
Rebellion's CEO, Jason Kingsley, previously shared with GamesIndustry.biz that launching Atomfall on Game Pass did not cannibalize sales but rather provided a strategic advantage. "What you gain from that cost is disproportionate," Kingsley explained, highlighting that Microsoft guarantees a certain level of income to developers, thus mitigating financial risks.
Moreover, the Game Pass model fosters word-of-mouth marketing, as Kingsley noted: "With Game Pass, you can get people to try it, then as a result of those people trying it, they like it, and they then tell their mates on social media, 'I found this game on Game Pass, I really enjoyed it, you should have a go.' And then some of them are on Game Pass, and will [play] it. But some of them aren't on Game Pass, and will also want to be part of that conversation. So, they'll go and buy it."
Although the financial specifics of Microsoft's agreements with developers like Rebellion are kept under wraps, it's evident that both parties benefit from the arrangement. Microsoft's latest public disclosure from February 2024 reported 34 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers, showcasing the platform's vast reach.
In our Atomfall review, IGN praised the game, stating, "Atomfall is a gripping survival-action adventure that takes some of the best elements of Fallout and Elden Ring, and synthesizes them into its own fresh mutation."
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