DON’T NOD Reveals New Trailer for Aphelion
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2025 8:32 pm
DON’T NOD Reveals New Trailer for Aphelion
Aired at the ID@Xbox showcase, the trailer reveals gameplay mechanics, a whole new part of the game a never-before-seen antagonist and more.
Paris, France – October 28th, 2025 – French developer and publisher DON'T NOD has presented a new trailer for Aphelion, its upcoming cinematic third-person action-adventure game launching in 2026, at the ID@Xbox Showcase.
The trailer reveals Ariane’s fellow astronaut Thomas Cross as a playable character, and showcases brand-new stealth sequences, the never-before-seen alien antagonist, new environments, and the in-game spacesuit patch designed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Aphelion is a sci-fi action-adventure on the edge of the solar system. In the shoes of ESA astronauts Ariane and Thomas, players will explore and survey the uncharted planet Persephone and solve the mystery of the crash, all while trying to survive in the terrifying presence of an unknown enemy. At its heart, the game is an emotional tale about love, resilience, hope, and what we bring with us when everything is lost.
Watch the brand new "Hide to Survive" Trailer here:
Aphelion’s dual-protagonist structure shapes not only the gameplay but the emotional core of the game. ESA astronauts Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross have differing playstyles and experiences as they try to find one another after the crash of their ship. Ariane’s gameplay is highly physical; she explores and traverses Persephone. Thomas is injured from the crash but investigates the planet in other, more deductive ways. As players go further into each of their gameplay, secrets and clues will be found to understand more about the planet’s strange conditions and what caused the crash of their ship, the Hope-01.
The trailer showcases for the first time The Nemesis, the planet’s monster and the hostile form taken by the intelligent life that lives in the oceans of Persephone. Its existence introduces tense, thrilling stealth gameplay as players must hide, sneak, and avoid confrontations to survive while understanding where it comes from and why it’s stalking them.
ESA Patch
As is tradition in spaceflight, each mission has a symbolic patch representing it. The game’s fictional Hope-01 mission patch – designed by Aphelion’s Artistic Director Arnaud Barbier in collaboration with ESA – bridges the history of space exploration with the speculative future that this story explores. It has two defining elements: Persephone (based on the real Planet Nine) and the shuttle that carries the astronauts there. The Hope-01 patch represents the themes of Aphelion: hope, mystery, and the courage to leave behind what we know and step into uncharted territory.
Aphelion will release in 2026 on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. It will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and available day one with Game Pass.
To stay up to date, follow DON’T NOD on X, Instagram, and TikTok.
About DON’T NOD
DON’T NOD is an independent French publisher and developer with studios in Paris and Montréal creating original narrative games in the adventure (Life is StrangeTM, Tell Me WhyTM, Twin MirrorTM), RPG (VampyrTM, Banishers: Ghosts of New EdenTM), and action (Remember MeTM) genres. The studio is internationally renowned for unique narrative experiences with engaging stories and characters and has worked with industry leading publishers: Square Enix, Microsoft, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Focus Entertainment and Capcom. DON’T NOD creates and publishes its own IPs developed in-house such as Harmony: The Fall of ReverieTM, JusantTM and Lost Records: Bloom & RageTM as well as using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with third-party developers whose editorial visions parallel the company’s own.
Step into the studio's immersive and innovative universe at dont-nod.com
DON’T NOD (ISIN code: FR0013331212 - ALDNE) is listed on Euronext Growth Paris
Aired at the ID@Xbox showcase, the trailer reveals gameplay mechanics, a whole new part of the game a never-before-seen antagonist and more.
Paris, France – October 28th, 2025 – French developer and publisher DON'T NOD has presented a new trailer for Aphelion, its upcoming cinematic third-person action-adventure game launching in 2026, at the ID@Xbox Showcase.
The trailer reveals Ariane’s fellow astronaut Thomas Cross as a playable character, and showcases brand-new stealth sequences, the never-before-seen alien antagonist, new environments, and the in-game spacesuit patch designed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Aphelion is a sci-fi action-adventure on the edge of the solar system. In the shoes of ESA astronauts Ariane and Thomas, players will explore and survey the uncharted planet Persephone and solve the mystery of the crash, all while trying to survive in the terrifying presence of an unknown enemy. At its heart, the game is an emotional tale about love, resilience, hope, and what we bring with us when everything is lost.
Watch the brand new "Hide to Survive" Trailer here:
Aphelion’s dual-protagonist structure shapes not only the gameplay but the emotional core of the game. ESA astronauts Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross have differing playstyles and experiences as they try to find one another after the crash of their ship. Ariane’s gameplay is highly physical; she explores and traverses Persephone. Thomas is injured from the crash but investigates the planet in other, more deductive ways. As players go further into each of their gameplay, secrets and clues will be found to understand more about the planet’s strange conditions and what caused the crash of their ship, the Hope-01.
The trailer showcases for the first time The Nemesis, the planet’s monster and the hostile form taken by the intelligent life that lives in the oceans of Persephone. Its existence introduces tense, thrilling stealth gameplay as players must hide, sneak, and avoid confrontations to survive while understanding where it comes from and why it’s stalking them.
ESA Patch
As is tradition in spaceflight, each mission has a symbolic patch representing it. The game’s fictional Hope-01 mission patch – designed by Aphelion’s Artistic Director Arnaud Barbier in collaboration with ESA – bridges the history of space exploration with the speculative future that this story explores. It has two defining elements: Persephone (based on the real Planet Nine) and the shuttle that carries the astronauts there. The Hope-01 patch represents the themes of Aphelion: hope, mystery, and the courage to leave behind what we know and step into uncharted territory.
Aphelion will release in 2026 on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. It will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and available day one with Game Pass.
To stay up to date, follow DON’T NOD on X, Instagram, and TikTok.
About DON’T NOD
DON’T NOD is an independent French publisher and developer with studios in Paris and Montréal creating original narrative games in the adventure (Life is StrangeTM, Tell Me WhyTM, Twin MirrorTM), RPG (VampyrTM, Banishers: Ghosts of New EdenTM), and action (Remember MeTM) genres. The studio is internationally renowned for unique narrative experiences with engaging stories and characters and has worked with industry leading publishers: Square Enix, Microsoft, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Focus Entertainment and Capcom. DON’T NOD creates and publishes its own IPs developed in-house such as Harmony: The Fall of ReverieTM, JusantTM and Lost Records: Bloom & RageTM as well as using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with third-party developers whose editorial visions parallel the company’s own.
Step into the studio's immersive and innovative universe at dont-nod.com
DON’T NOD (ISIN code: FR0013331212 - ALDNE) is listed on Euronext Growth Paris