Atomfall Profitable at Launch, Sequel Discussed

Atomfall, the British survival game developed by Rebellion, has proven to be an immediate financial success 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—meaning they did not purchase the game directly—Rebellion reported that Atomfall became profitable right away, recouping its development costs.

While specific sales figures remain undisclosed, Rebellion highlighted that Atomfall marked their largest launch ever in terms of player engagement. The inclusion on Xbox Game Pass undoubtedly played a role in this success, allowing a broader audience to try the game without upfront costs.

In discussions with The Game Business, Rebellion revealed that they are now exploring ideas for sequels or spin-offs, all while continuing to support Atomfall with ongoing updates and downloadable content (DLC).

Rebellion's CEO, Jason Kingsley, previously shared with GamesIndustry.biz that launching on Game Pass did not cannibalize sales but rather provided a guaranteed income stream from Microsoft, mitigating financial risks. Kingsley emphasized the marketing advantage of being on Game Pass, which exposes the game to a vast audience and encourages positive word-of-mouth that can drive further sales.

"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 cycle not only benefits those already subscribed to Game Pass but also prompts others to purchase the game to join the conversation.

The specifics of financial arrangements between Microsoft and developers like Rebellion are kept under wraps, leaving the exact earnings from Atomfall a matter of speculation. However, it's clear that both parties benefit, with Microsoft gaining from increased Game Pass subscriptions.

As of February 2024, Microsoft reported 34 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers, a figure that has likely grown since.

IGN praised Atomfall in their review, describing it 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."

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