Aphelion - PS5

Aphelion - PS5

Journey to the edge of the solar system in Aphelion for PlayStation 5, a cinematic third-person sci-fi action-adventure from DON'T NOD, the studio known for story-driven experiences such as Life is Strange, Jusant, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.

In the year 2060, Earth is becoming uninhabitable. Humanity's greatest hope lies on Persephone, a newly discovered ninth planet located at the edge of the solar system.

The European Space Agency sends astronauts Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross aboard the Hope-01 scientific mission to determine whether Persephone could become humanity's new home. But after their spacecraft crash-lands, the pair are separated across the frozen alien world.

Explore dangerous landscapes, climb across collapsing ice, investigate mysterious facilities, survive encounters with a terrifying alien predator, and uncover the reality-bending secrets hidden beneath Persephone's surface.

Aphelion was released for PlayStation 5 on April 28, 2026.

Key Features

• Cinematic Sci-Fi Adventure - Explore an emotional, story-driven adventure set on a mysterious planet at the edge of the solar system.
• Play as Two Astronauts - Experience different gameplay styles as Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross.
• Explore Planet Persephone - Cross a vast frozen alien environment shaped by dangerous weather, unstable terrain, and mysterious phenomena.
• High-Stakes Traversal - Climb, slide, swing with a grappling hook, and use momentum-based movement to cross dangerous environments.
• Stealth-Based Survival - Avoid the deadly alien Nemesis by staying hidden, controlling your movement, and using the environment.
• No Traditional Combat - The Nemesis cannot be killed or harmed with human weapons; survival depends on stealth and escape.
• Dual-Perspective Gameplay - Ariane focuses on traversal and stealth, while Thomas emphasizes investigation, exploration, and environmental interaction.
• Survival Tools - Use equipment including a Pathfinder, oxygen tank, grappling hook, and other exploration tools.
• Oxygen Management - Thomas must manage his oxygen and locate supply stations while exploring Persephone.
• Reality-Bending Mystery - Investigate strange electromagnetic anomalies and discover what caused the Hope-01 mission to crash.
• Emotional Story - Ariane and Thomas share a complicated past, and their attempt to reunite becomes central to the story.
• Created in Collaboration with ESA - Developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
• Single-Player Adventure - One-player offline gameplay.
• DualSense Vibration - Feel additional gameplay feedback through the PS5 DualSense controller.
• Adaptive Trigger Support - PS5 accessibility information confirms adaptive trigger effects can be enabled or disabled.
• 3D Audio Support - Spatial audio support adds greater immersion to Persephone's environments.
• Photo Mode - Capture the frozen landscapes and environments of Persephone.

Story

Humanity Needs a New Home

By 2060, Earth is approaching the point where it will no longer be habitable.

Humanity's future changes when scientists discover a previously unknown ninth planet at the edge of the solar system:

Persephone.

The European Space Agency launches the Hope-01 mission, sending two accomplished astronauts to investigate whether humans could eventually survive there.

Those astronauts are:

Ariane Montclair

and

Thomas Cross

Their scientific mission quickly turns into a fight for survival when the Hope-01 spacecraft crashes on Persephone.

Separated after the impact, Ariane and Thomas must find a way back to one another while discovering that the seemingly empty planet is far more dangerous than anyone expected.

Play as Ariane Montclair

Ariane's sections emphasize movement, physical traversal, and stealth.

Explore Persephone's natural landscapes while:

• Climbing frozen terrain
• Crossing unstable ice
• Sliding across slopes
• Grappling over chasms
• Navigating collapsing environments
• Avoiding the Nemesis

DON'T NOD intentionally designed Ariane to feel capable but human rather than like a superhero or professional climber.

Her Pathfinder helps identify routes through Persephone's constantly shifting environments.

Play as Thomas Cross

Thomas offers a different style of gameplay.

Injured during the crash, he cannot navigate the planet with Ariane's physical agility.

His sections focus more heavily on:

• Exploration
• Investigation
• Observation
• Environmental interaction
• Discovering Persephone's history
• Solving mysteries

Thomas also has an oxygen-management mechanic that requires him to locate and connect to oxygen supply stations while exploring.

Switching between Ariane and Thomas creates two distinct perspectives on the same mystery.

Hide from the Nemesis

Something else is alive on Persephone.

The mysterious creature known as the Nemesis hunts Ariane throughout sections of the adventure.

Unlike many action-adventure games, Aphelion does not include traditional combat against the creature.

It cannot be killed or injured using human weapons.

Instead, players must:

• Stay hidden
• Watch the creature's movement
• Control the amount of noise they make
• Use environmental cover
• Plan escape routes
• Avoid detection

The Nemesis reacts to sounds produced by the player's movement, making noise management an important part of survival. Controller vibration also provides feedback about the consequences of player actions.

Explore Persephone

Persephone is more than simply the setting of Aphelion—it is one of the game's primary challenges.

The frozen planet features:

• Massive ice formations
• Dangerous cliffs
• Deep chasms
• Thin ice
• Unstable terrain
• Extreme weather
• Abandoned facilities
• Electromagnetic anomalies
• Reality-bending phenomena

Some ice surfaces can collapse if players move across them carelessly, making navigation itself part of the challenge.

Exploration Tools

Ariane and Thomas rely on exploration equipment rather than weapons.

Available tools include equipment such as:

Pathfinder

Helps Ariane determine routes through unfamiliar terrain.

Grappling Hook

Used during traversal to swing across gaps and reach otherwise inaccessible areas.

Oxygen Equipment

Especially important for Thomas, whose sections introduce oxygen-management mechanics.

EM Scanner

Used as part of the investigation into Persephone's electromagnetic anomalies and strange environmental conditions.

A Story About Two Astronauts

The mystery of Persephone is only one part of Aphelion.

At the center of the game is the relationship between Ariane and Thomas.

The two astronauts share a deep connection and a complicated past that was never fully resolved before their mission.

After the crash separates them, finding one another becomes more than a survival objective.

Their relationship becomes their emotional lifeline while both struggle against isolation, injury, fear, and the unknown.

Collaboration with the European Space Agency

Aphelion was created in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The partnership helped DON'T NOD build a more grounded interpretation of near-future human space exploration while still telling a fictional science-fiction story.

The fictional Hope-01 mission patch was also designed in collaboration with ESA and appears on Ariane and Thomas's spacesuits.

PS5 Features

The PlayStation 5 version supports:

• DualSense Vibration / Haptic Feedback
• Adaptive Trigger Effects
• 3D Audio
• Offline Play
• 1 Player
• Advanced Subtitles
• Audio Cue Alternatives
• Visual Cue Alternatives
• Mono Audio
• Multiple accessibility options.

Specifications

DON'T NOD estimates a normal playthrough at approximately 8–12 hours, depending on how thoroughly the player explores.

Language Support

Voice

• English

Interface & Subtitles

• English
• French
• German
• Italian
• Spanish
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Polish
• Russian
• Simplified Chinese.

Arabic is not currently listed as an officially supported language, so Arabic menus or subtitles should not be advertised unless your exact regional package specifically states otherwise.

Release Date

Aphelion was released digitally on April 28, 2026 for:

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S
• PC.

The game is therefore already released and should not be listed as a preorder.

Physical PS5 Edition

Aphelion also received a dedicated physical PlayStation 5 release called:

Pioneer Edition

The Aphelion Pioneer Edition released July 2, 2026 for PlayStation 5.

The physical edition includes:

• Aphelion Full Game
• Day One Cosmetics Pack
• 2 Spacesuit Variants
• 6 Backpack Accessories
  • 3 Stickers
  • 3 Keychains
• Digital Artbook
• Original Soundtrack
• Exclusive Hope-01 Mission Patch Sticker

The mission-patch design was created in collaboration with the European Space Agency.

Important

If your physical PS5 stock is the Pioneer Edition, I recommend clearly using “Pioneer Edition” in the product specifications because it includes content beyond the standard digital game.

Day One Content

The original Day One Edition included a cosmetics pack containing:

• 2 Spacesuit Variants
• 3 Backpack Stickers
• 3 Backpack Keychains

The designs reference:

• ESA collaboration
• Jusant
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.

Do not advertise this content with a standard digital copy unless your exact edition includes it.

Age Rating

The ESRB rates Aphelion:

M – Mature 17+

for:

• Blood
• Strong Language
• Violence.

The ESRB specifically notes stealth sequences involving hostile alien creatures as well as bloody environments and bodies encountered during exploration.

In Europe, the game is rated:

PEGI 16.

Perfect For

• Sci-Fi Game Fans
• Space Exploration Fans
• Story-Driven Game Fans
• DON'T NOD Fans
• Stealth Game Players
• Survival Adventure Fans
• Narrative Adventure Players
• Psychological Horror Fans
• Mystery Fans
• Exploration Game Fans
• Single-Player Gamers
• PlayStation 5 Owners
• Fans of Cinematic Games
• ESA & Space Exploration Enthusiasts

Why Buy Aphelion?

• Original science-fiction adventure from DON'T NOD.
• Developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
• Explore the mysterious ninth planet Persephone.
• Play as two different astronauts.
• Distinct gameplay for Ariane and Thomas.
• Cinematic third-person presentation.
• Fast traversal and parkour-style movement.
• Grappling, climbing, and sliding mechanics.
• Dangerous environmental navigation.
• Tense stealth gameplay.
• Unkillable alien Nemesis creates constant pressure.
• No traditional combat—survival depends on intelligence and stealth.
• Investigate reality-bending phenomena.
• Discover mysterious facilities.
• Oxygen-management gameplay.
• Emotional story centered on Ariane and Thomas.
• Approximately 8–12 hours of gameplay.
• Photo Mode.
• 3D Audio support.
• DualSense vibration.
• Adaptive trigger effects.
• Extensive accessibility options.
• Complete single-player offline experience.
• Physical Pioneer Edition available for PS5.