Writer and developer DON’T NOD has launched a model new trailer for its upcoming narrative third-person action-adventure recreation Aphelion. The trailer, which you’ll be able to try under, confirms that astronaut Thomas Cross may also be a playable character alongside protagonist Ariane, whereas additionally giving us a take a look at some gameplay and a take a look at among the enemies that gamers should tackle.
Dubbed Cover to Survive, the trailer additionally provides us a take a look at the character of Thomas Cross, and the way he tends to take care of the unusual crises befalling the crew of the Hope-01 shuttle. The trailer additionally signifies that fairly a little bit of the plot of Aphelion will revolve round Ariane and Thomas looking for one another after getting separated because of the Hope-01 shuttle crashing on to the planet Persephone.
With Aphelion, DON’T NOD seemingly needs to supply a singular tackle the “stranded-on-an-alien-planet” narrative by giving us the views of each characters that occur to be on the lookout for one another. As we are able to see within the trailer, nevertheless, this quest is stuffed with its personal perils, as each Ariane and Thomas should navigate by treacherous environments whereas additionally avoiding the eye of a wierd alien lifeform, recognized solely as The Nemesis.
Together with exploration and stealth, it appears to be like like Aphelion may also function some platforming parts as its two protagonists should scale the edges of cliffs and run by a frozen lake that appears to be collapsing proper below their toes. The trailer caps issues off by exhibiting us a face-to-face encounter between Ariane and The Nemesis.
In response to DON’T NOD, each characters may have their very own distinctive gameplay types. Ariane has been described as being extra bodily, which can come by in how she will get to traverse by the environments of Persephone. Thomas, nevertheless, is injured in the beginning of the story, and his gameplay will revolve extra round his deductive capabilities.
Curiously, the title may also function a nod to the European Area Company within the type of a specifically designed patch worn by each Ariane and Thomas. The patch was designed by the sport’s inventive director, Arnaud Barbier, in collaboration with ESA to characterize the Hope-01 mission to look at and discover planet Persephone.
Aphelion was first unveiled again in June throughout Xbox Video games Showcase 2025 with a trailer. On the time, solely Ariane had been confirmed because the protagonist of the title. DON’T NOD had additionally revealed that the story would revolve across the discovery of a ninth planet within the Photo voltaic System – Persephone – and the Hope-01 mission to survey and discover the planet, which in the end goes mistaken.
Aphelion is being developed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Sequence X/S. Whereas it doesn’t but have a stable launch date, DON’T NOD has acknowledged that will probably be popping out on 2026. PC and Xbox Sequence X/S gamers may also have the ability to play the title on day one by Recreation Go. Within the meantime, additionally try particulars concerning the deal that the developer signed with Netflix to make a brand new recreation.
