APHELION | NEW TRAILER SHINES A LIGHT ON DON’T NOD’S NEXT SCI‑FI ADVENTURE
French development studio Don’t Nod, known for story‑rich titles like Life Is Strange, has formally introduced its upcoming game Aphelion, and the recently unveiled reveal trailer is doing much of the heavy lifting. The video premiered during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 and instantly caught attention: we see two astronauts, Ariane and Thomas, stranded on the frozen planet Persephone, while reality itself seems to shift around them.
The footage opens with sweeping vistas of icy terrain, shrouded in darkness and mystery, before cutting to close‑ups of fear and hope on the protagonist’s face. A rapid montage highlights traversal mechanics, stealth segments, and an alien threat lurking in the background. One moment you’re scaling travertine cliffs, the next you’re ducking from an unseen predator in deep snow. The trailer finally closes with the tagline: “Brave the Unknown on the Edge of Our Solar System.” What stands out is not just the visuals but the tone: Don’t Nod and its partner, the European Space Agency (ESA), appear to be leaning into grounded, human drama wrapped in near‑future sci‑fi. According to the official release, by the year 2060 Earth has become uninhabitable, and humanity’s hope rests on the Hope 01 mission to Persephone. The trailer and press materials emphasize emotional stakes, survival against the unknown, and the dual‑protagonist structure where Ariane and Thomas must navigate separated paths of rescue and reunion.
The video’s release also confirms Aphelion will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Game Pass) and PlayStation 5, with availability slated for 2026. Despite its early stage, the presentation is polished: from the directional cinematography in the trailer to Don’t Nod’s collaboration with ESA, the game is positioning itself not just as another sci‑fi title, but as an atmospheric experience with scientific tangibility. For readers of pcdoorz, this trailer is an invitation: take note of the visuals, the pacing, the cinematic flourishes and the quiet moments of tension. It’s not just a teaser it sets the tone of what to expect. While details are still under wraps (actual gameplay footage remains limited), the reveal trailer already suggests a game that’s been crafted with care and ambition. Stay tuned to pcdoorz as we monitor further announcements, gameplay deep‑dives and release updates for Aphelion. In the meantime, if you haven’t yet, you can watch the full reveal trailer online to get your first taste of Ariane’s and Thomas’s mission across the edge of the solar system.
