Rebellion CEO Reflects on Atomfall's Success and the Launch of New IPs on Xbox Game Pass

In celebration of Atomfall's milestone of 1.5 million players, Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley highlighted the studio's unique approach to game development. The company's size and stability enable it to take risks and create innovative games like Atomfall, which has now reached 2 million players. Kingsley emphasized the importance of balancing sequels and new IPs, aiming for a mix of two-thirds sequels and one-third new IPs to keep the studio engaged and pushing boundaries. The success of Atomfall, which launched on PC, PS5, and Xbox, including Game Pass, has been a significant factor in the company's growth. The game's unique blend of post-apocalyptic elements and British science fiction references has resonated with players, drawing comparisons to the Fallout series but ultimately establishing its own identity. Kingsley noted that the game's wishlist numbers exceeded projections, and the marketing support from Xbox has been instrumental in its success. The partnership with Xbox Game Pass has also provided a significant discoverability boost, allowing the game to reach a broader audience. Kingsley hopes that the game's success on Game Pass will translate to increased sales, as players who enjoy the game will recommend it to others. The company's approach to forecasting sales involves creating low, medium, and high projections, and while Atomfall has performed ahead of expectations, Kingsley acknowledges that launching a new IP on Game Pass can mitigate risk but also potentially cannibalize sales from other platforms. Despite the challenges, Kingsley is pleased with the outcome and sees the partnership with Xbox as a confidence booster for the studio's new game. Looking ahead, Kingsley expressed his desire to create a medieval fantasy game, potentially incorporating elements from his YouTube channel, Modern History TV. However, he acknowledges that the studio's current workload and resource constraints may delay such a project.