DON’T NOD’s Aphelion Reveals Composer and PS5 Physical Edition Details
The cinematic science-fiction third-person action adventure game Aphelion is set to launch in 2026, and developer DON’T NOD has announced key updates regarding its soundtrack and release plans.
On January 8, 2026, the studio revealed that the score for the game will be composed by Cesar award-winning French-Tunisian composer Amine Bouhafa.
Bouhafa’s appointment is notable as this is his first time composing for a video game.
He is a composer known for his film scores on acclaimed projects such as Timbuktu (2015), The Summit of the Gods (2021), and The Little Sister (2025).
In a press release, Bouhafa commented:
“This is my first time working on a video game, and I loved the way that [the Aphelion team] thought about the music and about the game. I’m enjoying the experience.”
DON’T NOD creative director Florent Guillaume praised the collaboration, stating:
“It has been a real pleasure to collaborate with Amine on Aphelion. We discovered his work through his composition for The Summit of the Gods and were immediately captivated by his talent for portraying the intimacy of characters caught up in a grand, epic adventure.”
Guillaume added that he hopes players will feel that connection and be moved by their experience.
The score is designed to give life to the frozen planet Persephone and support the emotional journeys of the protagonists, Ariane and Thomas.
Bouhafa’s work beautifully conveys the atmosphere of the planet and the emotions between the characters.
To accomplish this, he employs instruments such as the grand pipe organ to reflect the sacred feeling of the adventure, and the unique cristal baschet to bring to life the frozen identity of Persephone.
In addition to the musical announcement, DON’T NOD confirmed plans for a physical edition of “Aphelion” for the PlayStation 5.
Maximum Entertainment will distribute the physical release across North America, Europe, and Australia.
“Aphelion” is a third-person action-adventure set in the near-future on the uncharted planet Persephone.
The plot follows astronaut Ariane Montclair, who crash lands and must survive the hostile, ever-changing environment to reunite with her injured partner, Thomas Cross.
The game, which was first revealed on June 8, 2025, at the Xbox Games Showcase, is developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) to ground its space exploration elements in real scientific knowledge.
The title is scheduled for release in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store, and will be available on Game Pass at launch.
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