DON’T NOD Reveals Aphelion, a Cinematic Sci-Fi Survival Journey to a Frozen Planet

DON’T NOD has revealed their newest game, Aphelion, a sci-fi third-person action-adventure coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC in 2026. The game will also be available on Game Pass at launch. The announcement came with a press release and is part of a special partnership with the European Space Agency.

Set in the year 2060, Aphelion tells the story of two astronauts, Ariane and Thomas, sent on a mission to explore a newly discovered ninth planet called Persephone.

Earth is no longer livable, and this frozen world at the edge of the solar system might be humanity’s last hope. Things go wrong immediately when their ship crash-lands, separating the two and kicking off a desperate journey across an alien world.

The game mixes action, exploration, stealth, and drama. Players will control Ariane as she searches for Thomas, trying to survive harsh environments, limited resources, and mysterious threats hiding beneath the ice. You’ll use tools like an oxygen tank, grappling hook, and a scanner to move across dangerous terrain and uncover secrets buried in the snow.

According to creative director Florent Guillaume, Aphelion is a big step forward for the studio. “Aphelion is a game we’re very passionate about, something we’re really pushing ourselves creatively on,” he said. “We’re excited to share more of DON’T NOD’s first human story in space, and to be able to do it in collaboration with the European Space Agency is incredibly exciting and special for us.”

ESA also shared their thoughts on the game. Nadia Luders from the agency said, “For fifty years, ESA has combined rigorous space science with the boundless imagination of science fiction to explore solutions to our planet’s greatest challenges. Aphelion captures that spirit—where research meets imaginative vision – to inspire the next generation to carry Europe’s space ambition into the future.”

The game will focus heavily on emotional storytelling and the bond between Ariane and Thomas, who share a complicated past. Their connection becomes key to survival as they navigate this unknown planet. There’s also a mystery element, as something strange and dangerous seems to be hiding under the ice.

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