The release date for a video game inspired by the Windscale disaster has been revealed.
Atomfall is a survival-action game with horror elements based in a post-nuclear apocalypse version of Cumbria and the Lake District.
Inspired by the real events of the 1957 disaster, the game takes place five years after the fire, in a fictionalised quarantine zone.
Developers Rebellion has announced it will be released on March 27 next year – and people can pre-order it now.
A new trailer has also been released.
Players will be able to explore a dark version of the county’s countryside and interact with cults, rogue government agencies, a military beset with factions and other unusual characters along the way.
West Cumbrian landmarks including Sellafield and the site’s old golf ball building and cooling towers also make an appearance in Atomfall.
The Fallout-esque game was announced in June at the Xbox summer showcase by Rebellion, best known for the Sniper Elite franchise.
Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion, said: “In Atomfall, we wanted to take the picturesque British countryside and flip it on its head.
“So, this classic picture postcard setting now serves as an eerie backdrop for a dark mystery that players will have to piece together for themselves.
“Atomfall is a new story based on a real disaster and told in the speculative fiction style typical of 1950s/60s Britain.
“Players can expect to see post-war Britain, Cold War paranoia, and mysterious folk horror blended with elements inspired by classic British sci-fi like Day of the Triffids, Doctor Who, and The Quatermass Experiment.
“Growing up in Britain, this style of fiction influenced many of our team and really plays to Rebellion’s strengths as a British games studio. We can’t wait for players to uncover the mystery of Atomfall.”
The single player gameplay and story elements of Atomfall are new for Rebellion – as the developers typically create third-person tactical shooter games.
Atomfall will instead focus on scavenging, investigating, crafting and fighting to survive.
Ben Fisher, associate head of design at Rebellion, added: “The quarantine zone in Atomfall has been cut off from the outside world for some time.
“This means that you’re dealing with a bunch of people that have been left to their own devices and it’s safe to say that things have gone a bit Lord of the Flies in places.”
Atomfall will be available on Xbox game pass, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows PC and PC via Steam and via the Epic Games Store.
It will also be available on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.
