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 without purchasing it directly, Rebellion announced that Atomfall became "immediately profitable."
The developer has highlighted that Atomfall represents their largest launch to date in terms of player numbers, likely boosted by the exposure provided by Game Pass subscribers on Xbox and PC. In discussions with The Game Business, Rebellion confirmed that the game quickly recouped its development costs, showcasing its commercial viability.
Looking forward, Rebellion is exploring options for sequels or spin-offs while continuing to support Atomfall with post-launch content and DLC. In an earlier conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, Rebellion's CEO, Jason Kingsley, emphasized that the game's inclusion in Game Pass did not cannibalize sales. Instead, it offered a disproportionate benefit in terms of cost versus exposure, with Microsoft ensuring a guaranteed income level to mitigate financial risks.
Kingsley further explained the marketing advantage of Game Pass, noting that it allows players to try the game, which can lead to positive word of mouth and subsequent purchases by those outside the subscription service. This strategy not only drives engagement within the Game Pass community but also encourages sales among non-subscribers eager to join the conversation around the game.
While the financial specifics of Microsoft's agreements with developers like Rebellion remain confidential, it's clear that both parties benefit from the arrangement. Microsoft's latest reported Game Pass subscriber count stands at 34 million as of February 2024, indicating a broad audience for games like Atomfall.
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 synthesises them into its own fresh mutation."
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