After Inc.: A $2 Gamble in a Free-to-Play World
Ndemic Creations' bold move to price its new game, After Inc., at just $2 is raising eyebrows. Released on November 28th, 2024, the sequel to the wildly popular Plague Inc. finds humanity rebuilding after the Necroa Virus catastrophe. Developer James Vaughn, in a recent Game File interview, admitted to reservations about this pricing strategy in a mobile market dominated by free-to-play (F2P) games laden with microtransactions.
Despite the seemingly optimistic premise—a stark contrast to the grim scenarios of Plague Inc. and Rebel Inc.—Vaughn and his team pressed forward, banking on the established success of their previous titles. "Our existing successes with Plague Inc. and Rebel Inc. are the only reason we could even consider a premium release," Vaughn explained. "They help players find us and demonstrate that there's still a demand for intelligent strategy games on mobile. Without Plague Inc., I doubt any game, regardless of quality, would gain much traction."
Ndemic Creations assures players that all purchased content is complete; no additional payments are required. The App Store listing explicitly states "no consumable microtransactions" and promises "Expansion Packs are buy once, play forever."
Early results are promising. After Inc. currently sits in the top 5 of the App Store's paid games chart, alongside Plague Inc. and Stardew Valley, boasting a 4.77/5 rating on Google Play. A Steam early access version, titled After Inc. Revival, is slated for release in 2025.
What is After Inc.?
After Inc. is a blend of 4X grand strategy and simulation. Players rebuild human civilization in a post-apocalyptic UK, utilizing resources from ruins to establish and manage settlements. Essential services are key to maintaining a happy and healthy population, and players can choose from five leaders (ten on Steam), each with unique abilities.
The looming threat? Zombies. Players must contend with these undead hordes to secure resources and expand their settlements. But according to Vaughn, "Nothing that can’t be solved with some nails stuck in a cricket bat!"
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