A few weeks back, we rolled out the latest trailer for Atomfall, our highly anticipated game that invites you to unravel the enigma surrounding the events at the UK’s Windscale nuclear site in the 1950s. The narrative spins a fictional tale inspired by the real-life nuclear incident in Northern England.
In the trailer, you get a peek into the game’s folk horror elements and your first look at Casterfell Woods. This unsettling locale in Atomfall is where you’ll stumble upon a spooky wicker man and a ringing phone booth that demands your attention.
You might wonder what inspired the haunting vibe of Casterfell Woods. We thought you’d enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how we crafted this distinctive environment.
From the get-go, we aimed to create eerier realms within the game, ones that emphasize folk horror and offer a stark contrast to our more idyllic landscapes. Typically, our outdoor settings are lush and quintessentially British—verdant and pleasant. But with Casterfell, we hoped to evoke intrigue and suspense about the hidden, ancient secrets lurking in the shadowy woods. This creative challenge promised to be exhilarating, so we dove into our research.
Initially, we focused on setting a visual foundation for our sandbox environments, particularly building the diverse natural biomes. Once we established this, we could infuse our themes into the mix.
Early in the development, our team embarked on several trips to the English Lake District to gather references and capture photogrammetry content. For many on the team, myself included as an American, this landscape was nothing short of exotic. For those unfamiliar, the Lake District is an area rich with natural beauty and diversity. It’s incredibly lush, with lakes and streams weaving through the landscape, crowned by stunning stone formations atop the hills. The area brims with greenery, ferns, and moss.
Navigating those narrow Cumbrian roads was quite a thrill for someone new to driving in the UK! Flanked by stone walls on one side and steep drops to the lake on the other, it was as harrowing as it was rewarding. The trips yielded invaluable insights and reference material, including exquisite photogrammetry, solidifying our game’s visual roots in Northern Britain.
With that base set, we pondered how to twist this familiar world into something distinct from a typical outdoor getaway. How could we blend an older era with a subtle twist of the surreal?
Our exploration of storytelling led us to folk horror, sci-fi, and the imaginative narratives of classic British fiction. Films like “The Wicker Man,” “The Blair Witch Project,” “Annihilation,” and “Midsommar” served as rich sources of inspiration. British television such as “Doctor Who,” “The Prisoner,” and “The Quatermass Xperiment” offered further creative fuel, alongside John Wyndham’s delightfully bizarre novels.
Our intent was to transport players into another time. The real Windscale incident occurred in 1957, marking the quarantine’s beginning in our story. We deliberated extensively on how to convey this period within a natural setting—considering trees have looked much the same for centuries.
Our discussions veered towards who might inhabit these woods, isolated from village life, surviving without modern conveniences. The answer lay in reviving ancient survival techniques. We envisioned outcasts reverting to historical methods, using readily available materials. They’d construct shelters from wattle and daub, thatched roofs, and dry-stone structures. Though these building methods still exist today, they hold an archaic allure, especially to those of us from elsewhere.
Infusing inspiration from our media influences and a distinctly British flavor, we added layers of symbolic imagery. Ancient etchings, effigies, and wicker creations mingled with traditional elements like maypoles and bunting to weave a tapestry rich in pagan undertones.
We believe you’ll find Casterfell Woods and its concealed secrets fascinating when Atomfall launches on March 27 for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. It will also be available on Game Pass from day one, and we can’t wait for you to dive into this experience.
From Rebellion, the creators of “Sniper Elite” and “Zombie Army,” Atomfall is set in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by historical events. Immerse yourself in a quarantined British countryside, scavenging, crafting, and navigating a landscape teeming with curious characters, mysticism, cults, and shadowy government agents. In this survival-action game, unearth the grim mystery behind what truly happened.
Take on this green yet sinister land. The British countryside, with its rolling hills and quaint villages, hides significant peril. Scavenge for resources, craft essential items, and fight to survive. Engage in intense combat where every bullet and swing counts, managing your stamina for precision and impact.
Atomfall reimagines the Windscale event, drawing from sci-fi, folk horror, and the Cold War era to create a fascinating yet familiar world.
