From the narrative experts at DON’T NOD (creators of Life is Strange, Vampyr, and Jusant) comes an atmospheric sci-fi odyssey developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). Aphelion is a third-person action-adventure that trades small-town drama for the desolate, frozen reaches of the edge of our solar system. Stranded on the uncharted planet Persephone, you must navigate shifting realities and a relentless alien threat to find what was lost. The mission begins soon, so here’s everything you need to know before you descend.
Aphelion Release Date and Global Launch Times
Aphelion officially launches digitally on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. DON’T NOD has confirmed a staggered digital rollout across consoles and PC. Here’s the breakdown for all platforms:
| Region | Release Date | Local Time (PC/Xbox) | Local Time (PS5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast USA (Los Angeles) | April 28, 2026 | 1:00 AM PDT | 2:00 AM PDT |
| Central USA (Chicago) | April 28, 2026 | 3:00 AM CDT | 4:00 AM CDT |
| East Coast USA (New York) | April 28, 2026 | 4:00 AM EDT | 5:00 AM EDT |
| United Kingdom (London) | April 28, 2026 | 9:00 AM BST | 10:00 AM BST |
| Central Europe (Berlin / Paris) | April 28, 2026 | 10:00 AM CEST | 11:00 AM CEST |
| India (New Delhi) | April 28, 2026 | 1:30 PM IST | 2:30 PM IST |
| Japan (Tokyo) | April 28, 2026 | 5:00 PM JST | 6:00 PM JST |
| East Australia (Sydney) | April 28, 2026 | 6:00 PM AEST | 7:00 PM AEST |
Aphelion Launch Countdown Clock
Oxygen levels are nominal. Use our countdown clock to track the final moments until touchdown on Persephone:
Platforms
Aphelion is a current-gen exclusive title, leveraging the latest hardware for high-fidelity environmental storytelling.
- PC (through Steam and Microsoft Store)
- Xbox Series X|S
- PlayStation 5
Gameplay Features
In Aphelion, you control two characters, Ariane and Thomas, whose paths diverge after a crash on Persephone. After that, you have to follow two distinct paths:
Ariane's journey focuses on exploration and cinematic traversal. Using her pathfinder tool and specialized grappling kit, Ariane must navigate the planet's verticality and reality-bending anomalies.
Meanwhile, Thomas's struggle focuses on investigative puzzles and environmental survival. Having suffered injuries in the crash, his gameplay is more methodical as Thomas interacts with mission technology to assist Ariane.
The core threat is the Nemesis, a relentless alien presence that forces tense stealth encounters. With approximately 8-12 hours of gameplay, you'll experience a gameplay mix of realistic space exploration and psychological sci-fi mystery across 11 chapters.
Pricing, Editions, and Pre-order Bonuses
DON'T NOD has confirmed two primary ways to get Aphelion. One is the digital release, and another is a physical release arriving later this summer.
| Edition | Price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Day One Edition (Digital) | $34.99 | Full Digital Game + pre-order bonus (if applicable) |
| Pioneer Edition (Physical) | $39.99 | Physical PS5 Release (expected release: July 2nd). Includes the Full Game + reversible coversheet, exclusive ESA Hope-01 mission patch sticker, 3 in-game backpack stickers, two Suits (skins), 3 in-game backpack keychains, and the digital soundtrack and artbook. |
Additionally, gamers who pre-order Aphelion will receive some of the digital goodies from the planned physical release, plus players who pre-order on consoles will receive a 10% discount on the Day One Edition. These are the contents of the digital pre-order rewards:
- Backpack sticker: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – Eyeball
- Backpack sticker: ESA – Friends in High Places
- Backpack sticker: Jusant – Climber
- Backpack keychain: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Three-eyed Cat
- Backpack keychain: ESA – Hope-01
- Backpack keychain: Jusant-Ballast
- Space Pioneer – ESA alternative suit
- Space Hero – a suit worthy of a space opera
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Aphelion is a Day One release for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers starting April 28, 2026. Check the Xbox Store for more info.
No. While the game is launching on PlayStation 5, it will not be available on any PlayStation Plus tiers (Essential, Extra, or Premium) at launch. However, a PS Plus membership will net you a 10% discount for Aphelion in the PS Store.
Yes! Players are encouraged to capture and share the haunting beauty of the Persephone landscape.
No, Aphelion is a linear narrative-driven adventure, though it features wide environments that reward exploration and discovery of "Persephone Fact Sheets."
Yes. The game explores themes of death, psychological distress, and features instances of mild body horror and blood/injury.
