AN independent video game company has announced a new release which takes place in Cumbria and the north of England in the aftermath of the Windscale disaster. 

The Windscale fire occured at Sellafield on October 10 1957, and has been described as the worst nuclear accident in the United Kingdom's history, and one of the worst in the world.

Now, Rebellion, the company behind popular shooter Sniper Elite, have announced that their new game Atomfall will be set five years after the fire in a fictionalised quarantine zone.

A woodland castle in AtomfallA woodland castle in Atomfall (Image: Supplied)

Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion, commented: "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.

"So, 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."

Scene-setter in AtomfallScene-setter in Atomfall (Image: Supplied)

Ben Fisher, associate head of design at Rebellion said: "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.

"You’ll need to explore this hostile world and navigate bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and murky government agencies. Your interactions with these are important and will shape your story.

"Investigate clues to piece together events, be prepared to scavenge to survive, and remember that every encounter is a matter of life and death."

Atomfall will launch in 2025 and will be available on Xbox, Playstation and PC.