Atomfall, the hit British survival game developed by Rebellion, has proven to be a financial success right from its launch on March 27, 2025, across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Despite a significant portion of its 2 million player base accessing the game through Xbox Game Pass without purchasing it directly, Rebellion announced that Atomfall became "immediately profitable" upon release.
Although specific sales figures remain undisclosed, Rebellion highlighted that Atomfall marked their largest launch to date in terms of player engagement. The inclusion in Xbox Game Pass played a pivotal role in attracting a broad audience, allowing players to try the game without an upfront purchase.
In discussions with The Game Business, Rebellion revealed that the game's revenue quickly surpassed its development costs. The studio is now exploring possibilities for sequels or spin-offs, while also focusing on post-launch support and additional downloadable content (DLC) for Atomfall.
Rebellion's CEO, Jason Kingsley, in an earlier conversation with GamesIndustry.biz, emphasized that the decision to launch Atomfall on Game Pass did not negatively impact sales. He pointed out that the benefits of being on Game Pass far outweighed any potential risks, as Microsoft ensures a baseline income for developers, mitigating financial risks.
Kingsley elaborated on the marketing advantage of Game Pass, noting that it exposes the game to a wider audience. Positive word-of-mouth from Game Pass players can lead to increased sales as non-subscribers, influenced by their peers' recommendations, may decide to purchase the game outright.
While the specifics of financial arrangements between Microsoft and developers like Rebellion are kept under wraps, it's clear that both parties benefit from the increased visibility and player engagement that Game Pass offers. The last reported subscriber count for Xbox Game Pass, from February 2024, stood at 34 million users.
IGN's review of Atomfall praised the game, 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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