Plague Inc.'s Less Bleak and More Affordable Sequel
Concerned About Mobile Game Market Being Saturated With F2P Games
Ndemic Creations launched After Inc. on November 28, 2024, at a budget-friendly price of $2. However, developer James Vaughn expressed doubts about this pricing strategy in an interview with Game File on the same day. After Inc. serves as a sequel to the highly acclaimed game Plague Inc., set in a world where humans emerge from their bunkers decades after the Necroa Virus outbreak.
Despite After Inc. presenting a more optimistic narrative than its predecessors, Plague Inc. and Rebel Inc., Vaughn remains uncertain about the $2 price point. His concerns are rooted in the mobile gaming market's saturation with free-to-play (F2P) games laden with microtransactions. Yet, driven by the success of their previous titles, Ndemic Creations decided to move forward with this pricing.
"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 promised that all purchased content in After Inc. will be available without additional payments. The App Store page for the game clearly states that there are no "consumable microtransactions," and "Expansion Packs are buy once, play forever," ensuring players can progress without further expenditure.
Currently, After Inc. ranks fifth in the App Store’s Top Paid Games category, closely trailing behind Plague Inc. and Stardew Valley. It has garnered a 4.77 out of 5 rating on Google Play. Additionally, an early access version titled After Inc. Revival is slated for release on Steam in 2025, extending Ndemic Creations' latest offering to PC gamers.
What is After Inc.?
After Inc. is a "mini" 4X grand strategy game infused with simulation elements. Players are tasked with rebuilding human society from scratch in the aftermath of Plague Inc.'s events. Set in a post-apocalyptic yet lush and vibrant United Kingdom, players must establish multiple settlements amidst the ruins of modern civilization.
These ruins are vital sources of crafting and building materials such as wood and scrap metal, essential for expanding, constructing, and maintaining settlements. Players can build various structures, including farms and lumberyards, to kickstart the revival of human civilization. Ensuring essential services is crucial for keeping citizens content and well-fed. Additionally, players can select from five leaders (ten on Steam), each with unique abilities, to guide their settlements.
A looming threat in this new world is the presence of zombies. Players must clear these zombies to safely gather resources and potentially expand their settlements. However, with sufficient resources and manpower, players can fight back and reclaim the world. Vaughn humorously reassures players, "Nothing that can’t be solved with some nails stuck in a cricket bat!"
