Atomfall, the latest survival game from developer Rebellion, has proven to be a resounding success, achieving "immediate profitability" 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, which means they did not purchase it outright, Atomfall has not only recouped its development costs but has also become Rebellion's largest launch in terms of player numbers.

Rebellion's CEO, Jason Kingsley, shared insights with The Game Business, highlighting that Atomfall's inclusion in Game Pass did not cannibalize sales but rather enhanced its reach. Kingsley emphasized the strategic advantage of Game Pass, stating, "What you gain from that cost is disproportionate," and pointed out that Microsoft ensures a "certain level of income" to developers, mitigating financial risks.

The success of Atomfall has sparked discussions at Rebellion about potential sequels or spin-offs, while the studio continues to support the game with ongoing post-launch content and DLC. Kingsley also discussed with GamesIndustry.biz how Game Pass helps in generating word-of-mouth marketing, as subscribers who try the game and enjoy it often recommend it to others, some of whom may then purchase the game outside of the subscription service.

While specific sales figures for Atomfall remain undisclosed, the game's positive reception and its inclusion in Game Pass have likely contributed to its financial success for both Rebellion and Microsoft. The latter benefits from a larger subscriber base drawn to the platform by engaging titles like Atomfall. As of February 2024, Xbox Game Pass had 34 million subscribers, although more current figures are not available.

IGN's review praised Atomfall 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," underscoring the game's innovative approach to the genre.

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