DON’T NOD took the stage at the New Game+ Showcase to provide a fresh update on a project first unveiled to the public a year ago.
The acclaimed studio behind Life is Strange and Banishers: Ghost of New Eden is currently hard at work on Aphelion. During the latest presentation, the developers shared new gameplay footage featuring its two leads and highlighted the game’s evocative score, which is being composed by the talented Bouhafa.
The narrative is set in the year 2060 on Persephone, a frigid and uncharted planet that serves as the final hope for a dying humanity. Players follow the journey of two European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts, Ariane Monclair and Thomas Cross. After their vessel, the Hope-01, crash-lands, the two protagonists are separated across a desolate and unforgiving landscape. The project aims for a grounded, high-concept sci-fi atmosphere, crafted in collaboration with the real-world ESA, where survival depends as much on technical ingenuity as it does on the emotional connection between the characters.
In terms of mechanics, Aphelion is built around a dual-protagonist system, with each character offering a distinct playstyle. Ariane leads the high-mobility segments, featuring fluid parkour, ice-climbing, and the use of specialized gadgets like a grappling hook. Meanwhile, the injured Thomas focuses on environmental navigation, logical deduction, and complex puzzle-solving. The game departs from traditional action by eschewing direct combat; instead, it emphasizes stealth and evasion as players hide from a relentless antagonist known as “The Nemesis,” creating the tension of a cinematic sci-fi thriller.
Aphelion is currently scheduled for release in 2026.
Source: iXBT.games