After Inc., the $2 Sequel to Plague Inc., Takes a Gamble on Premium Pricing
A Risky Bet in a F2P-Dominated Market
Ndemic Creations launched After Inc. on November 28th, 2024, priced at a surprisingly affordable $2. However, developer James Vaughn admitted reservations about this pricing strategy in a recent Game File interview. The game, a sequel to the wildly successful Plague Inc., unfolds in a post-apocalyptic UK, where humanity rebuilds after the Necroa Virus pandemic.
While After Inc. offers a brighter premise than its predecessors, Vaughn voiced concerns about the mobile market's saturation with free-to-play (F2P) games reliant on microtransactions. Despite these doubts, the team proceeded, confident in the established success of Plague Inc. and Rebel Inc. Vaughn stated, "The only reason we can even consider releasing a premium game is because we have our existing juggernauts...which will help players find our games - and also show that there is still an appetite for intelligent, sophisticated strategy games on mobile."
Ndemic Creations assures players of a one-time purchase model. The App Store listing explicitly states "no consumable microtransactions" and promises that "Expansion Packs are buy once, play forever."
Initial success suggests the gamble might pay off. After Inc. currently sits in the top 5 paid games on the App Store, trailing only Plague Inc. and Stardew Valley, and boasts a 4.77/5 rating on Google Play. A Steam early access version, After Inc. Revival, is also slated for release in 2025.
Rebuilding Civilization, One Settlement at a Time
After Inc. is a blend of 4X grand strategy and simulation. Players establish and manage settlements across the UK, scavenging resources from ruins to build farms, lumberyards, and other essential structures. Citizen happiness and well-being are key, and players can choose from five leaders (ten on Steam), each with unique abilities.
The challenge? Zombies. Players must fend off undead hordes to secure resources and expand their settlements. As Vaughn playfully assures players, "Nothing that can’t be solved with some nails stuck in a cricket bat!"
