Atomfall: How a forgotten nuclear disaster inspired a video game

The video game Atomfall has been inspired by a significant historical event, the Windscale fire, which occurred in Cumbria, England, in 1957. This incident is often overshadowed by more widely known nuclear disasters such as Fukushima, Chernobyl, and Three Mile Island. However, the Windscale fire is recognized as one of the first nuclear accidents in the world and remains the worst in the UK. On October 10, 1957, a nuclear reactor at the Windscale site caught fire and burned for three days, releasing radioactive materials into the atmosphere. For many years, the details surrounding this event were kept quiet, and it is not as well-remembered as other nuclear disasters. The game Atomfall, developed by Rebellion, a company based in Oxford known for its Sniper Elite series, aims to bring this historical event back into public consciousness. Jason Kingsley, the CEO of Rebellion, came up with the idea for the game while walking in the picturesque Lake District. He envisioned using the real-life Windscale story as a foundation for a fictionalized version of the disaster. In Atomfall, players navigate a survival action game set in the beautiful landscapes of the Lake District, but in an alternate timeline where the area surrounding the nuclear plant has become a quarantine zone. Jason Kingsley remarked, 'It went pretty wrong in real life, but it was controlled. ' He emphasized that while the Windscale fire was a serious disaster, it did not lead to the emergence of bizarre phenomena like glowing plants or mutants. Despite the seriousness of the Windscale fire, it is not widely remembered, even among locals. The radioactive leak caused some cases of thyroid cancer, and all milk produced within a 310-square-mile area was destroyed for a month following the incident. The Windscale site was eventually renamed Sellafield and continued to produce nuclear power until 2003, still employing around 10,000 people in the local area. During a visit to Cumbria, reporters found that most young people they spoke to were unaware of the disaster. However, indie game developers Hannah Roberts and Harry Hawson expressed that they became more aware of the event once the game was announced. For them, as aspiring game developers, it is exciting to see a game set in their local area. Hannah, 26, noted that the creators of Atomfall had done their research well, stating, 'The actual environments are spot on, they've got fantastic Morris dancing stuff going on - it really tickled me when I saw that. ' She appreciated the attention to detail, such as the black and white Cumbrian signposts. The setting and inspiration behind Atomfall have made it a highly anticipated title since its announcement last year. Harry, 23, shared his excitement about seeing a small place like Cumbria being recognized by the gaming industry. He said, 'Seeing that such a small space like Cumbria can be taken by the games industry and built upon and people are receptive to that, it's exciting for the future and I look forward to seeing what's next for me.