French developer and publisher DON’T NOD has presented a new look at its upcoming title, Aphelion, during the latest ID@Xbox Showcase. The cinematic third-person action-adventure game is scheduled to release in 2026 and will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The trailer introduces Thomas Cross, a second playable astronaut joining Ariane Montclair, and reveals several new gameplay elements, including stealth mechanics, new environments, and the first appearance of the alien antagonist. It also highlights a mission patch created in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Aphelion takes players to the edge of the solar system, on a mission that goes terribly wrong. The story follows two ESA astronauts, Ariane and Thomas, as they explore the mysterious planet Persephone after the crash of their spacecraft, Hope-01. Stranded in an unfamiliar environment, both characters must uncover what caused the disaster while surviving against an intelligent and hostile presence. The game blends narrative-driven storytelling with exploration and survival mechanics, offering a mix of emotional depth and tension as players progress through its unfolding mystery.
The structure of Aphelion revolves around two distinct protagonists. Ariane Montclair’s gameplay focuses on physical exploration and traversal across the planet’s rugged surface. In contrast, Thomas Cross, injured during the crash, engages with the world through investigation and analytical tasks. This dual-character design gives players two perspectives on the same story, revealing how their separate experiences gradually connect as the mystery behind the crash and Persephone’s strange conditions becomes clearer.
The new trailer also introduces The Nemesis, a menacing alien lifeform native to Persephone’s oceans. It is the first visual reveal of the creature and plays a key role in the game’s stealth-based segments. Players must rely on evasion and observation rather than direct confrontation to survive encounters with this unknown threat. These sequences aim to heighten the game’s sense of suspense while deepening the understanding of the planet’s ecosystem and the life that inhabits it.
The ESA-designed mission patch for the Hope-01 expedition was created by Aphelion’s Artistic Director Arnaud Barbier in collaboration with the European Space Agency. It bridges real-world spaceflight traditions with the game’s fictional narrative. The patch features Persephone—based on the theoretical Planet Nine—and the shuttle that carries the astronauts on their journey. Its design captures the core spirit of Aphelion: discovery, courage, and humanity’s enduring desire to explore beyond the limits of the known universe.
Aphelion will be released in 2026 and will be available as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. It will also launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one, allowing subscribers to experience the full adventure at release. With its combination of exploration, mystery, and character-driven storytelling, DON’T NOD’s Aphelion continues the studio’s tradition of crafting immersive narrative experiences that merge science fiction with human emotion.
