
In a stellar reveal at the Xbox Games Showcase, DON’T NOD, the master storytellers behind acclaimed titles like Life is Strange and Vampyr, has announced a brand-new cinematic sci-fi adventure: Aphelion.
The game is set to launch in 2026 and will be available day one on Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass, alongside releases on Steam and PlayStation 5.
In a fascinating move that sets this project apart, Aphelion has been developed in official collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), grounding its near-future narrative in real-world science.
A Desperate Mission to the Edge of Space
Aphelion is set in a near-future where Earth is on the brink of collapse. The story follows astronaut Ariane Montclair on an emotional journey to the edge of our Solar System. Her mission is to survey Persephone, a newly discovered planet that may be humanity’s last hope.
After crash-landing on the planet, Ariane must brave harsh alien landscapes, master an array of survival tools, and navigate reality-bending phenomena in a desperate attempt to reunite with her wounded partner, Thomas Cross.
The game is a powerful standalone single-player experience, blending gripping exploration and traversal with tense stealth gameplay and the rich environmental storytelling DON’T NOD is known for.
Grounded in Reality: A Collaboration with the ESA
The partnership with the European Space Agency is a core pillar of Aphelion’s design. Both protagonists, Ariane and Thomas, are ESA astronauts on the fictional Hope 01 mission. This collaboration allows the developers to weave authentic elements of space science and humanistic values directly into the emotional core of the game, creating a more believable and immersive vision of humanity’s future in space.
“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,” says Nadia Lüders, ESA Partnership & Brand Licensing Officer.
A Word from the Creators
The team at DON’T NOD is pouring all of its narrative expertise into this ambitious new project.
“Aphelion is a game we’re very passionate about, something we’re really pushing ourselves creatively on. 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,” says Florent Guillaume, Aphelion’s Creative Director.
A New Chapter for a Master Storyteller
DON’T NOD has built an incredible reputation for crafting unique narrative games with engaging stories and unforgettable characters. From the branching paths of Life is Strange and the moral quandaries of Vampyr to the serene beauty of Jusant, the studio has consistently delivered high-quality, emotionally resonant experiences.
Aphelion marks an exciting new chapter, taking their signature storytelling into the realm of hard science fiction.
With its gripping premise, a unique collaboration with the ESA, and a day one launch on Xbox Game Pass, Aphelion has immediately become one of the most anticipated of all narrative adventures.