After Inc: Plague Inc Sequel Launches at $2, a Bold Pricing Strategy for Developers

Ndemic Creations has launched "After Inc.," the much-anticipated sequel to the wildly popular "Plague Inc.," setting it at a modest price of $2. Released on November 28, 2024, this game offers a more hopeful outlook compared to its predecessors, focusing on rebuilding human society post-Necroa Virus. However, James Vaughn, the developer behind the game, expressed reservations about this pricing strategy during his interview with Game File on the same day. His concerns are rooted in the current mobile gaming landscape, which is dominated by free-to-play (F2P) games laden with microtransactions.

Concerned About Mobile Game Market Being Saturated With F2P Games

Despite his doubts, Vaughn and his team at Ndemic Creations decided to go ahead with the $2 pricing, leveraging the success of their previous hits, "Plague Inc." and "Rebel Inc." Vaughn noted, "The only reason we can even consider releasing a premium game is because we have our existing juggernauts of Plague Inc. and Rebel Inc. which will help players find our games - and also show that there is still an appetite for intelligent, sophisticated strategy games on mobile. If we didn't have Plague Inc. to help - I think any game, no matter how good it is, would really struggle to get noticed."

Ndemic Creations has committed to a no-microtransactions model for "After Inc." Their App Store page clearly states there are no "consumable microtransactions," and any expansion packs are a "buy once, play forever" deal. This approach ensures that all purchased content is available to players without additional costs.

Currently, "After Inc." ranks fifth in the App Store’s Top Paid Games category, just behind "Plague Inc." and "Stardew Valley," and it boasts a commendable 4.77 out of 5 rating on Google Play. Additionally, an early access version, "After Inc. Revival," is slated for a 2025 release on Steam, expanding the game's reach to PC players.

What is After Inc.?

"After Inc." is described as a "mini" 4X grand strategy game intertwined with simulation elements. Players are tasked with reconstructing human society from scratch in a post-apocalyptic world set in the United Kingdom. Utilizing the remnants of modern civilization, players establish settlements, gather resources like wood and scrap metals from ruins, and build essential structures such as farms and lumberyards to sustain and grow their communities.

The game also emphasizes the importance of providing services to keep citizens content and well-fed. Players have the option to select from five leaders (with ten available on the Steam version), each offering unique abilities to guide their settlements.

However, the path to rebuilding isn't without its challenges. Zombies roam the landscape, posing a threat to resource collection and settlement expansion. Yet, with adequate resources and manpower, players can combat these threats and reclaim the world. As Vaughn humorously put it, "Nothing that can’t be solved with some nails stuck in a cricket bat!"