DON’T NOD is heading back to story-driven territory with Aphelion, a cinematic sci-fi action-adventure set on a frozen planet at the edge of the solar system. The release date reveal arrived alongside a new atmospheric trailer at the Future Games Show: Spring Showcase 2026, and there is plenty to unpack. Here is everything confirmed so far.
Aphelion Release Date
Aphelion launches on April 28, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store.
Players who prefer physical media can also look forward to the Pioneer Edition, an exclusive boxed release for PlayStation 5 arriving on July 2, 2026, distributed by Maximum Entertainment.
Aphelion Platforms and Price
| Platform | Price | Notes |
| PC (Steam / Microsoft Store) | $29.99 / €29.99 | 10% launch discount available for a limited time |
| PS5 | $34.99 / €34.99 | 10% pre-order discount available (e.g. €31.49 instead of €34.99); physical Pioneer Edition available July 2 |
| Xbox Series X|S | $34.99 / €34.99 | 10% launch discount available for a limited time; Xbox Game Pass at launch |
Notably, last-gen consoles are not supported, and there is currently no Nintendo Switch version announced.
Is Aphelion on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes. Aphelion will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch on April 28, 2026.
Additionally, Aphelion is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, meaning a purchase or Game Pass access grants play on both Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC with shared cloud saves, achievements, and cross-progression. This gives Microsoft ecosystem players strong flexibility across devices without paying twice.
Pre-Order Editions
DON’T NOD has confirmed two editions for Aphelion:
Day One Edition
Available across all platforms at launch. Pre-ordering the Day One Edition gives buyers a 10% discount plus a cosmetic pack that includes:
- Two spacesuit options
- Six backpack accessories
- Sticker and keychain designs created in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), with references to DON’T NOD’s own previous titles, Jusant and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
Pioneer Edition (Physical, PS5 Only)
The Pioneer Edition releases on July 2, 2026, exclusively for PlayStation 5. It expands on the Day One Edition by including:
- The full Day One Edition cosmetic pack (spacesuits, backpack accessories, ESA/Jusant/Lost Records stickers and keychains)
- A digital artbook
- The official soundtrack
- A special Hope-01 mission sticker designed in collaboration with the ESA, which also appears visibly on the protagonists’ suits within the game itself
The Persephone Trailer
DON’T NOD revealed the Persephone trailer alongside the release date announcement at the Future Games Show. The trailer centres on the game’s frozen alien setting and features voice acting from Eric Geynes (Thomas Cross) and Vanessa Dolmen (Ariane Montclair), with the tone shifting deliberately from an atmosphere of hope toward something far more ominous, reflecting the tension at the core of the game.
Aphelion Story and Gameplay
Aphelion is set in the year 2060, where humanity searches for a new home as Earth becomes uninhabitable. Players follow ESA astronauts Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross, whose Hope-01 mission crashes on Persephone, a newly discovered ninth planet at the edge of the solar system.
Ariane’s immediate goal after the crash is to find and rescue the injured Thomas while surviving the hostile environment. However, the frozen landscape is not the only threat. Something unknown lives beneath Persephone’s surface, and the gameplay reflects that tension directly.
The narrative emphasises the unresolved emotional bond between Ariane and Thomas, blending grounded sci-fi realism developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency with horror-tinged tension throughout.
Key gameplay mechanics include:
- Dual-perspective survival: Players alternate between two playable protagonists. Ariane Montclair handles high-stakes traversal and parkour-style movement across icy terrain, using a pathfinder scanner for navigation. Thomas Cross focuses on stealth-driven investigation, deductive puzzle-solving, and resource management while injured
- Exploration and traversal across Persephone’s shifting, frozen landscapes
- Stealth mechanics to evade the mysterious lifeform lurking beneath the surface
- Specialised equipment including a pathfinder scanner, oxygen management systems, and a grappling hook for mobility
- Survival against environmental hazards and unpredictable weather alongside the alien threat
Announcement History
| Date | Event |
| June 9, 2025 | Aphelion first revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase |
| October 28, 2025 | DON’T NOD released the “Hide to Survive” gameplay trailer |
| February 20, 2026 | DON’T NOD aired a brand-new gameplay deep-dive trailer at the Convergence Showcase, showcasing dual-protagonist mechanics and tension-building sequences |
| March 12, 2026 | Release date confirmed at Future Games Show: Spring Showcase 2026 alongside the Persephone trailer; pre-orders opened |
Aphelion arrives on April 28, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The Pioneer Edition physical release follows on July 2, 2026 for PS5 only. Pre-orders are open now on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam, and Microsoft Store. Digital versions are self-published by DON’T NOD, while the physical Pioneer Edition is distributed by Maximum Entertainment. Wishlist Aphelion today to stay updated on all launch details.
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