"Atomfall Profitable at Launch, Sequel Plans Discussed"

Rebellion, the developer behind the hit British survival game Atomfall, announced that the game became "immediately profitable" upon its release on March 27, 2025, despite a significant portion of its 2 million players accessing it through Xbox Game Pass, rather than purchasing it directly. Atomfall, available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, marked Rebellion's most significant launch in terms of player engagement, boosted by the accessibility provided by Game Pass subscribers on Xbox and PC platforms.

Although specific sales figures for Atomfall remain undisclosed, Rebellion confirmed to The Game Business that the title recouped its development costs right away. The success has spurred discussions within the studio about potential sequels or spin-offs, while they continue to support Atomfall with ongoing post-launch content and DLC.

In a conversation with IGN's sister site GamesIndustry.biz, Rebellion's CEO Jason Kingsley highlighted the strategic advantage of launching on Game Pass, emphasizing that it did not cannibalize direct sales but rather provided a "certain level of income" to offset risks. Kingsley noted the disproportionate benefits derived from Game Pass, as it not only exposes the game to a broad audience but also fosters word-of-mouth promotion.

"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 positive feedback loop encourages both Game Pass users and non-subscribers to engage with the game, potentially driving additional sales.

While the financial details of Microsoft's agreements with developers like Rebellion are kept under wraps, it's clear that both parties benefit from the arrangement. Microsoft's latest public disclosure in February 2024 indicated 34 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers, underlining 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 synthesises them into its own fresh mutation."

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