Rebellion Developments has officially marked its biggest launch in over three decades with the breakout success of Atomfall. The survival-action game has quickly surpassed over 2 million players, with over 1.5 million in its first week alone, largely fueled by its Day One launch on Xbox Game Pass.
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley emphasized how crucial Microsoft’s subscription platform has been in the game’s success.
“Xbox Game Pass was instrumental in Atomfall’s visibility. We were concerned about cannibalization of sales, but what we gained was disproportionate — in a good way.”
🔥 A Strong Debut and an Expanding Player Base
Atomfall, set in an alternate 1960s Britain ravaged by nuclear catastrophe, delivers gritty survival gameplay with open-ended quests, rich worldbuilding, and dynamic storytelling. Its unique direction quickly turned heads across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, earning critical acclaim and fan praise alike.
The game’s fresh take on post-apocalyptic survival, combined with a well-executed launch strategy, made it the most successful launch in Rebellion’s 32-year history.
🎮 Game Pass: Boosting Discoverability & Sales
Kingsley noted that while exact numbers aren’t available, word of mouth from Game Pass users led to significant upticks in full game purchases across platforms. Atomfall didn’t just survive the Game Pass gamble — it thrived because of it.
“We had doubts. We thought launching on Game Pass might hurt traditional sales, but it did the opposite — it helped Atomfall reach more players and drive premium purchases.”
🧭 What’s Next for Atomfall?
With a growing community, continued support, and upcoming content updates planned, Atomfall is just getting started. Rebellion plans to expand the game further, building on its momentum with new story content, patches, and possibly even franchise growth.
As Kingsley put it best:
“This isn’t just a win — it’s proof that great games, paired with great platforms, can change everything.”