Atomfall Profitable at Launch, Sequel Discussed

Atomfall, the hit British survival game developed by Rebellion, has proven to be a remarkable success right from its launch 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, Rebellion has declared that Atomfall became "immediately profitable" upon release. This achievement underscores the game's financial viability and broad appeal.

While exact sales figures remain undisclosed, Rebellion has highlighted Atomfall as their largest launch in terms of player numbers, a feat undoubtedly boosted by the accessibility provided by Xbox Game Pass. The developer's ability to recoup development costs immediately post-launch speaks volumes about the game's reception and market performance.

Looking ahead, Rebellion is already exploring opportunities for sequels or spin-offs, alongside continuing to support Atomfall with ongoing post-launch content and DLC. This forward-thinking approach demonstrates the studio's confidence in the Atomfall franchise's potential for growth and sustained player engagement.

In discussions with The Game Business and IGN's sister site GamesIndustry.biz, Rebellion's leader, Jason Kingsley, emphasized the strategic advantage of launching on Game Pass. He noted that this move not only avoided "cannibalizing" sales but also provided a guaranteed income stream from Microsoft, mitigating financial risks. Kingsley pointed out the disproportionate benefits gained from the exposure and word-of-mouth marketing that Game Pass facilitates.

"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,'" Kingsley explained. This organic promotion can lead to increased sales from individuals outside the Game Pass ecosystem who are drawn in by the positive buzz surrounding the game.

Although the specifics of Microsoft's business agreements with developers like Rebellion are kept confidential, the mutual benefits are clear. Microsoft gains from games that attract more subscribers to its service, while developers like Rebellion enjoy a wider audience and immediate profitability. The latest public figures from February 2024 show Xbox Game Pass with 34 million subscribers, highlighting the vast potential audience for games like Atomfall.

In our Atomfall review, IGN described the game as "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," further cementing its status as a standout title in the gaming landscape.

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