Atomfall caught everybody’s attention when it was announced earlier this year. Fallout comparisons were quick to follow, but the survival-action game’s setting in a quarantine zone in Northern England gives it its own bizarre, distinctive twist. Here’s everything we know about Atomfall so far!Atomfall comes from Sniper Elite developer Rebellion, and is one of the major upcoming Game Pass games arriving next year. Read on to find out more…Everything we know about AtomfallWhen is Atomfall coming out?Atomfall was announced only this year, but while there’s no specific release date yet, Rebellion has now narrowed down its release window to March 2025.What platforms is Atomfall coming to?Atomfall will launch for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Windows PC, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.Is Atomfall coming to Xbox Game Pass?Yes! Atomfall is one of the big Game Pass titles set to arrive early next year, and will join the service as a day-one addition.What is the story and setting for Atomfall? According to Rebellion, Atomfall is “inspired by the real-life events” of the 1957 Windscale nuclear disaster, and takes place five years later, exploring an alternate history in the game’s fictional version of a post-apocalyptic-style quarantine zone. The game is set in the North of England, around the Lake District — one trailer takes place in the village of Wyndham, but we’ll be roaming about the countryside too.A lot of the game’s mystery revolves around the disaster and what happened afterwards, with the devs explaining that “to get to the bottom of what happened at Windscale, you will need to navigate military encampments, delve through abandoned bunkers below ground, and risk your life in Pagan ruins.” On top of this, you’ll be dealing with “the host of eccentric characters and cryptic organisations that inhabit the quarantine zone. These individuals have been cut off from the outside world for years and left to their own devices, so are anything but normal.” The trailer shows us a fair few wacky characters ready to barter or hanging around at the pub, but less-friendly elements of the quarantine zone include bandits, cultists, and, of course, whatever that mutant thing is that pops up at the end of the Gamescom trailer.There’s also a military presence to contend with. “In response to the disaster, the army has been sent in to create and maintain a quarantine zone, Rebellion says. “This response force is known as ‘Protocol’. They are the ones tasked with keeping people safe — but after five years, their outlook has soured. You will learn more about Protocol as you interact with them — and the people they seek to control — over the course of the game. Are they a force for good, keeping people safe? Are they a force of oppression, making life harder for those in the quarantine zone? Or is there more going on than meets the eye?” Protocol are backed up by some serious robot power, with the robots themselves, who are “programmed to do everything necessary to maintain the quarantine,” set up as some of the strongest enemies you can engage with.When it comes to our own character, we know from an IGN interview with associate head of design Ben Fisher that Rebellion is keeping their backstory a secret for now. We don’t belong to any of the in-game factions — yet — which leaves us free to help who we want, but even more than this, our character doesn’t actually remember who they are, and simply wakes up in a quarantine bunker before setting out into this bizarre new world.What type of game is Atomfall?Atomfall is a single-player survival-action game. Its setting in an isolated, half-abandoned, almost post-apocalyptic quarantine zone mean scavenging, bartering, crafting and, of course, combat, will be key.Investigation will also play a part, as Atomfall’s Ben Fisher explained that the game focuses on leads instead of quests. You find leads by talking to people, or discover them hidden around the world, and pick where to go from there, but Fisher adds that these leads all tend to interconnect towards a larger story.There is a blend of melee and ranged combat, but Fisher points out that Atomfall’s setting means ammo isn’t in plentiful supply and the guns themselves might not always be in the best condition. In fact, the devs apparently want to focus on more of a “pub-brawl” feel with melee combat (you can also use a cricket bat). On top of that, you’ve got throwables like fire axes, as well as weapons like bows and arrows. If you prefer, you can try to avoid contact, and Fisher says you can make it through Atomfall without killing anyone, or even by killing everyone. A threat system is in place, and you might be able to wiggle out of fights by threatening unarmed enemies, for instance. Fisher does add that there are some “elements of Sniper Elite” in the game, so fans of the series can look out for those too.Rebellion is aiming for a feeling of “desperately attempting to survive” in Atomfall, so crafting focuses on everything from healing to weapons. Your backpack space, meanwhile, apparently isn’t infinite, and you’ll be dealing with limited resources.Atomfall achievement listThe Atomfall achievements aren’t out yet, but we’ll update here when we have them.Atomfall trailersAtomfall is still a fairly recent announcement, and its first reveal trailer came at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024:After that, we had a Gamescom trailer with more info on the story and setting.The Official Xbox Podcast then brought a more in-depth deep dive on Atomfall, going over the gameplay and more.Atomfall arrives early next year, the month after Avowed, another major Game Pass game of early 2025. If you’re looking for more info on that title, check out everything we know about Avowed!
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