Rebellion’s CEO Thinks Atomfall Deserves More Than One Game but It Might Not Be That Easy

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It appears that Rebellion Developments could have stumbled upon their next long-term project in the form of Atomfall, a thrilling survival-action role-playing game which debuted in March 2025 and immediately caught people’s attention.

Even with big-name titles such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Split Fiction hitting the market at the same time, this game emerged as one of Rebellion’s top-selling games yet.

As CEO Jason Kingsley explains, there’s a possibility that the game Atomfall could grow into something more significant; however, they need to secure the necessary resources to make it a reality. Kingsley was quick to praise Atomfall’s impressive debut, stating that its sales surpassed their mid-range expectations and even outperformed some of their internal “top-tier” predictions.

A significant contributor to their success has been Rebellion’s daring decision to experiment with a new concept for an intellectual property they usually avoid investing in. Amidst intense rivalry, the game managed to attract over 2 million players within just a few weeks. Kingsley asserts that releasing the game on Xbox Game Pass from its launch was one of their most brilliant strategies.

Microsoft was highly commended as a valuable collaborator by Atomfall’s team, who acknowledged their participation significantly boosted the game’s visibility and helped it gain traction. Even if the game didn’t sell well in terms of units, Rebellion would still receive consistent income due to its association with the platform. This partnership structure enabled the studio to delve into creative possibilities without compromising financial stability.

As Atomfall continues to triumph in the gaming world, I, Kingsley, remain grounded. Rebellion isn’t a studio swimming in AAA-level funding; instead, we adopt what I like to call a “mid-range” strategy—bigger than indie studios but nowhere near the budgets of blockbusters. Each game we develop needs to be financially viable, so we stay committed and disciplined in our approach.

They aren’t investing $200 million in development for Atomfall sequels, as Kingsley explains; they simply can’t afford to do so. Making Atomfall a series isn’t just about its success; it’s also about whether the studio has enough resources – both personnel and budget – to handle another large project along with their current ones.

Kingsley pointed out that Rebellion often follows a specific structure for their projects: about two-thirds of them are sequels, while approximately one-third involve novel concepts. At first deemed risky, Atomfall has been performing exceptionally well and seems destined to be grouped with Sniper Elite and Zombie Army in the sequel category.

Off-camera, the team is actively brainstorming methods to grow the world of Atomfall. Kingsley confessed that the game holds a personal significance for him; an idea he’s nurtured for almost a decade. Since its confirmation, it’s clear he’s eager to develop more of this universe.

As a gamer, I’m eagerly awaiting any official confirmation, but for now, it’s unclear if the upcoming game is going to happen. However, I hear that it depends on Rebellion’s ability to secure the required resources and find the right balance between ambition and practicality.

Rebellion, with more than 500 permanent staff members, certainly has a strong workforce; however, they don’t have enough resources to construct all the items on their wishlist simultaneously.

This has the makings of something big—maybe a sequel or even a whole franchise if things align.

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2025-04-21 04:12