Sequel to Plague Inc Priced Aggressively at $2, Aiming for Wide Audience

After Inc.: A $2 Gamble in a Free-to-Play World

Ndemic Creations' bold move to price its latest title, After Inc., at just $2, has raised eyebrows. Released on November 28th, 2024, this sequel to the wildly popular Plague Inc. sees humanity rebuilding after the Necroa Virus devastation. Developer James Vaughn, in a recent Game File interview, admitted to reservations about this pricing strategy in a mobile market dominated by free-to-play (F2P) games loaded with microtransactions.

Despite the seemingly optimistic premise—a stark contrast to the grim scenarios of Plague Inc. and Rebel Inc.—Vaughn and his team pressed forward, banking on the established success of their previous games. He explained, "The only reason we can even consider releasing a premium game is because we have our existing juggernauts of Plague Inc. and Rebel Inc. which will help players find our games - and also show that there is still an appetite for intelligent, sophisticated strategy games on mobile. If we didn't have Plague Inc. to help - I think any game, no matter how good it is, would really struggle to get noticed."

Ndemic Creations has pledged a commitment to players, promising all purchased content will remain accessible without additional costs. The App Store listing explicitly states "no consumable microtransactions" and that "Expansion Packs are buy once, play forever."

Initial success suggests the risk may be paying off. After Inc. currently sits in the App Store's Top Paid Games category, alongside titles like Plague Inc. and Stardew Valley. It boasts a strong 4.77 out of 5 rating on Google Play. A Steam early access version, After Inc. Revival, is also slated for release in 2025.

What Awaits in After Inc.?

After Inc. blends 4X grand strategy with simulation, challenging players to rebuild civilization across the UK in a vibrant, post-apocalyptic landscape. Players scavenge ruins for resources, construct settlements, manage essential services, and choose from five leaders (ten on Steam) to guide their communities. The looming threat? Zombies. But as Vaughn reassures, "Nothing that can’t be solved with some nails stuck in a cricket bat!"