After Inc, the Plague Inc Sequel, Priced at $2 in Risky Move for Devs

Plague Inc.'s Less Bleak, Budget-Friendly Sequel

Ndemic Creations' After Inc., released November 28th, 2024, takes a bold step with its $2 price tag. Developer James Vaughn, in a recent interview with Game File, admitted some apprehension about this pricing strategy in a mobile market dominated by free-to-play games laden with microtransactions. Despite these concerns, the success of Plague Inc. and Rebel Inc. fueled their decision.

Vaughn explained, "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."

Reassuringly, Ndemic Creations promises a completely upfront purchase model. The App Store listing explicitly states, "No consumable microtransactions," and confirms that "Expansion Packs are buy once, play forever," ensuring players get everything they pay for.

Initial reception has been positive. After Inc. currently sits in the top 5 paid games on the App Store, alongside titles like Plague Inc. and Stardew Valley, boasting a 4.77/5 rating on Google Play. A Steam early access version, titled After Inc. Revival, is also planned for 2025, bringing the experience to PC gamers.

What is After Inc.?

After Inc. is a compact 4X grand strategy/simulation game. Set in a post-apocalyptic UK, players rebuild human civilization after the events of Plague Inc. Starting with the remnants of society, players establish and expand settlements, utilizing salvaged resources from ruins to construct vital buildings like farms and lumberyards. Maintaining citizen happiness and providing essential services are key to success. Players can choose from five leaders (ten in the Steam version), each with unique abilities.

The challenge? Zombies roam the land, posing a constant threat to resource gathering and expansion. But as Vaughn assures players, "Nothing that can’t be solved with some nails stuck in a cricket bat!"