Atomfall Profitable at Launch, Sequel Plans Discussed Despite Game Pass Influx

Atomfall, the British survival game developed by Rebellion, has proven to be an immediate financial success following its release on March 27, 2025. Despite a significant portion of its 2 million player base accessing the game through Xbox Game Pass, rather than purchasing it directly, Rebellion reported that Atomfall became profitable right away. The game was released across multiple platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Rebellion has highlighted that Atomfall represents their largest launch to date in terms of player engagement, a feat undoubtedly supported by its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass, which allowed subscribers to try the game at no additional cost. The developer has not disclosed specific sales figures but emphasized the game's financial viability.

In discussions with The Game Business, Rebellion revealed that Atomfall recouped its development costs swiftly upon release. This success has prompted the studio to explore ideas for sequels or spin-offs while they continue to support Atomfall with post-launch content and downloadable content (DLC).

Rebellion's CEO, Jason Kingsley, in a prior conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, praised the strategic decision to launch Atomfall on Game Pass. He noted that this move effectively mitigated the risk of sales cannibalization, as Microsoft ensures a baseline income for developers. Kingsley highlighted the value of Game Pass, explaining that it not only exposes the game to a broader audience but also leverages positive word-of-mouth to 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 elaborated. This organic promotion leads to increased interest and purchases from those outside the Game Pass ecosystem.

While the exact financial details of the agreement between Rebellion and Microsoft remain confidential, it's clear that both parties benefit from Atomfall's success. Microsoft's latest public figures from February 2024 reported 34 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers, a testament to the platform's reach.

IGN's review of Atomfall praised it as 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," underscoring the game's unique appeal and quality.

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