Aphelion
News, coverage and analysis tracking Aphelion across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Video Game Studio Don't Nod Entertainment Could Shut Down
Don't Nod Entertainment, the studio behind Life is Strange, is facing severe financial difficulties and may cease operations by January 31, 2027. The company is considering laying off up to 90 employees as part of a restructuring plan to address cash flow issues. Despite a minority investment from Tencent in 2020, the Chinese company does not plan further investment, leaving Don't Nod reliant on securing external financing to survive.
Don't Nod might not have enough cash to make it through January 2027, and even if it does, pulling up could…
Developer Don't Nod is facing severe financial difficulties, with a material uncertainty about its ability to continue operating beyond January 31, 2027. Poor sales of recent titles like Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, coupled with increased development costs for a Netflix collaboration, have led to a significant decrease in operating revenue. The company is undergoing a restructure in France that may involve up to 90 layoffs.
DON’T NOD Announces Lay Offs Affecting Up To 90 Employees as Part of New Business Plan
DON’T NOD has announced potential layoffs of up to 90 employees as part of a new business plan and restructuring effort. The company cited profound changes in the economic conditions of the video game industry and its financing as reasons for the difficult measures, which are essential for its continued operations and long-term growth.
Don't Nod warns it may not have enough funding to operate beyond January 2027
Don't Nod, the studio behind Life is Strange, has warned it may not have enough funding to continue operating beyond January 2027 without securing external financing. The company is also considering cutting up to 90 jobs in France as part of a restructuring plan due to declining revenue and widening operating losses.
Life is Strange developer Don't Nod look primed for layoffs, as the studio announces a "transformation intitiative"
Life is Strange developer Don't Nod is initiating a "transformation initiative" that is likely to result in layoffs, as the company cites deteriorating economic conditions in the video game industry. The studio has convened employee representative bodies to discuss a potential job protection plan and has begun negotiations with labor unions.
Life is Strange and Aphelion studio Don't Nod probably facing layoffs again, as it announces ominous-sounding "transformation initiative"
French developer Don't Nod, known for Life is Strange and Aphelion, is initiating a "transformation initiative" that strongly suggests impending layoffs. The company cited "profound changes in the economic conditions of the video game industry" and deteriorating economic indicators as reasons for adapting its operating model, with negotiations underway for a job-preservation plan.
DON’T NOD Announces Restructuring to “Maintain its Competitiveness”, Might Involve Layoffs
DON'T NOD has announced a restructuring aimed at maintaining competitiveness, which is expected to involve layoffs. The company will meet with employee representatives to implement a job protection plan, with further details anticipated soon. This follows previous rumors and industry-wide concerns about job cuts.
Aphelion Review – A Stunning Yet Frustrating Sci-Fi Experience | Invision Game Community
Aphelion is a visually stunning but frustrating sci-fi experience from Don't Nod, featuring a slow-paced narrative and inconsistent checkpoint system. While the game boasts beautiful icy vistas and good voice acting, it lacks the character development and meaningful choices found in the studio's previous titles. Ultimately, it's a serviceable walking simulator with a standard sci-fi mystery that falls short of its potential.
Tencent is reportedly looking to back out of several studio investments like Story of Seasons developer Marvelous, but…
Tencent is reportedly looking to divest from several minority investments in video game studios, including a 20% stake in Marvelous, the developer of Story of Seasons. This reassessment of its portfolio may involve selling stakes back to original management, even at a loss. Investments in studios like PlatinumGames and FromSoftware are reportedly unaffected.
Sync and Stream: GeForce NOW Connects to Members’ Game Libraries Across Devices
NVIDIA's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service is expanding its library with new titles from various PC game stores, allowing players to stream games they already own across multiple devices. The service is also offering discounted annual memberships for its Performance and Ultimate tiers this summer. New games like Embers of the Uncrowned and Pro Cycling Manager 26 are being added, with some available through services like Xbox Game Pass.
Life is Strange creator Don't Nod look to be in hot water as a financial report says they'll be out of cash by November
French game developer Don't Nod, known for the Life is Strange series, is reportedly facing a severe cash shortage and may run out of funds by November 2026. Despite releasing five games in three years, recent titles have not performed well enough, and minority stakeholder Tencent is not providing further funding. The company is exploring options including seeking external financing, accelerating a new game's release, or taking on work-for-hire projects.
Aphelion and Life is Strange developer Don't Nod in trouble as it struggles to secure funding for its next project
French studio Don't Nod, known for Life is Strange and Aphelion, is facing financial difficulties and may run out of cash by November as co-owner Tencent is unwilling to fund its next project or increase its stake. The company is seeking other publishers for funding, but discussions have not yet yielded commitments. This situation could lead to layoffs and a scaled-back development scope for its upcoming game, Project P14.
EDGE #424 review scores – Tomodachi Life, Pragmata, Mixtape, more
The July 2026 issue of EDGE magazine, issue #424, features review scores for several games including Mixtape, Pragmata, and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. Other titles reviewed include Aphelion, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, and Vampire Crawlers.
Directive 8020 review – Until Dawn in space
Directive 8020 is Supermassive Games' latest interactive sci-fi horror title, drawing inspiration from films like The Thing and Aliens. While featuring excellent graphics, solid voice acting, and an innovative 'Turning Points' system allowing players to revisit decisions, the game is hampered by a lack of context for choices and a rigidly linear structure. The narrative, set on an exoplanet as humanity's last hope, suffers from character development issues and excessive walking through dark corridors, ultimately scoring a 6/10.
Alien Disclosure: The U.S releasing the UAP files ties into gaming tropes rather nicely
The recent declassification of UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) files by the U.S. Department of War, FBI, and NASA has sparked discussions about their connection to gaming tropes. While no definitive proof of alien life was revealed, the release of reports from military personnel and astronauts, including transcripts from Apollo missions and sightings near military bases, highlights a growing seriousness in addressing these events. This influx of real-world mystery provides a rich source of inspiration for science fiction games exploring themes of space exploration, alien encounters, and humanity's place in the cosmos, as seen in titles like The Outer Wilds, Aphelion, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Exodus, and Kerbal Space Program.
Säsong 9 slut – dubbla vinnare i FZ High Score!
The ninth season of FZ High Score has concluded, with Minnels and RobertWarrior94 sharing first place with 70 points each, earning them exclusive t-shirts. The season featured reviews for Kiln, Aphelion, and Saros, with Saros receiving the highest average score. Season 10 of FZ High Score is now underway.
Aphelion Review – Keeping Hope Alive
Aphelion is a narrative-driven science fiction adventure that excels in its storytelling and visual presentation, though its gameplay can become repetitive. Players explore the planet Persephone as either Ariane Montclair or Thomas Cross, tasked with evaluating its habitability for humanity. The game features a poignant story, immersive atmosphere, and a strong musical score, making it a recommended experience for fans of sci-fi narratives, particularly on PlayStation 5.
Something for the Bank Holiday Weekend – 02/05/26
This week's gaming news includes the early access release date for Subnautica 2, Star Wars: Galactic Racer's October launch, and the shutdown of developer Spiders. Several games received high review scores, including TerraTech Legion and Ground Zero, while previews covered titles like 007: First Light and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on Switch 2.
What We Played – Tides of Tomorrow, TerraTech Legion & Adorable Adventures
Several individuals share their recent gaming experiences, including Overwatch, Alien: Rogue Incursion, TerraTech Legion, Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade, and Hitman 3's Freelancer Mode. Other titles mentioned include Adorable Adventures, Moomintroll Winter's Warmth, Tides of Tomorrow, Ghost Master, Starfield, and various games on the AYN Thor handheld like .hack//Infection and Super Alloy Crush.
Aphelion review - saving the world, one relationship at a time
Aphelion is a sci-fi adventure game that blends walking simulator, romance, and survival horror elements, set in 2062 on the planet Persephone. Players control astronaut Ariane Montclair as she navigates the icy landscape and deals with a mysterious electromagnetic creature after a crash landing. While praised for its characters, animation, and environments, the game is criticized for its linear story, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues.
