Rebellion's Atomfall Achieves Major Success with Xbox Game Pass Support

Rebellion’s survival-action game Atomfall has officially crossed 2 million players, and a key driver of that success has been its launch on Xbox Game Pass. Released in March 2025 across PC, PS5, and Xbox, the title’s day-one availability on Microsoft’s subscription service played a pivotal role in elevating both its visibility and player count.

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley credited Game Pass with solving one of the studio’s biggest challenges: discoverability.

“With Game Pass, you can get people to try it,” Kingsley said. “Then, as a result of those people trying it, they like it—and they tell their mates on social media.”

This ripple effect of word-of-mouth, amplified by the Game Pass ecosystem, helped Atomfall expand far beyond its initial projections. While early comparisons likened the game to Fallout, Kingsley emphasized its unique identity, drawing more influence from Metro and STALKER, with a distinct British sci-fi twist.

Set in an alternate-history UK following the Windscale nuclear disaster, Atomfall tasks players with surviving a quarantined countryside by sneaking, trading, and fighting their way through a fractured, hostile world. Its gritty aesthetic, atmospheric tension, and deep faction-based gameplay have resonated with players globally.

Kingsley praised Microsoft for its collaborative support during the launch period: “They brought their skills and scale to bear on our small project. Microsoft has been a fantastic partner.”

Beyond exposure, Game Pass provided Rebellion with a financial safety net—a guaranteed baseline income regardless of direct sales figures. Kingsley acknowledged that while some retail sales might be impacted by subscription availability, the broader benefits far outweigh the tradeoff: “What you gain from that cost is disproportionate.”

While many game studios have faced turbulence, Rebellion has remained stable, employing over 500 full-time staff and continuing to invest in both new IPs and established franchises like Sniper Elite and Zombie Army. Careful budget control and smart publishing decisions have kept the studio competitive—even as layoffs have hit the broader industry.

Looking ahead, Kingsley has expressed interest in developing a medieval fantasy game, tying into his personal passion for history and his Modern History TV YouTube channel.