Atomfall profitable on debut, sequel eyed

Atomfall developer Rebellion confirms its successful British survival game achieved profitability immediately after launch, despite approximately 2 million players accessing it through Xbox Game Pass rather than purchasing it outright.

While Rebellion hasn't disclosed specific sales figures for Atomfall - released March 27, 2025 across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S - the studio acknowledges it's their largest-ever player base launch, significantly boosted by Game Pass availability.

The post-apocalyptic northern England simulator has reportedly recouped its development costs already, according to Rebellion's statement to The Game Business. The studio is now exploring sequel possibilities and spin-off concepts while continuing post-launch support and DLC development.

Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley explained in a GamesIndustry.biz interview how Game Pass inclusion avoided potential sales cannibalization: "The value you gain significantly outweighs any perceived risks," noting Microsoft's guaranteed minimum revenue helps mitigate financial exposure.

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The Game Pass model provides substantial marketing reach and audience accessibility, creating organic word-of-mouth promotion that drives additional sales. "Game Pass becomes a discovery platform," Kingsley elaborated. "Players who enjoy the title naturally recommend it within their circles, reaching both subscribers and potential buyers outside the service."

Microsoft maintains confidentiality regarding its developer agreements, leaving the precise financial impact on both Rebellion and Microsoft's subscription platform open to speculation. The company last reported 34 million Game Pass subscribers in February 2024.

IGN praised Atomfall as "a compelling survival-adventure that blends Fallout's apocalyptic atmosphere with Elden Ring's challenging gameplay to create something uniquely its own" in our official review.