Don’t Nod Cancels Ambitious Sci-Fi RPG to Prioritize New Open-World IP

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A recent leak indicates that developer Don’t Nod has undergone a significant internal project shake-up, canceling a highly ambitious sci-fi action RPG in pre-production to focus resources on a new, high-priority open-world title. This internal restructuring aligns with the French studio’s public efforts to streamline operations and cut costs following the underperformance of recent releases like Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden.

The canceled project was described as a “very ambitious” sci-fi action RPG utilizing Unreal Engine 5. It was a single-player new IP that spent approximately nine months in pre-production, from September 2023 to June 2024, with a small team of 15 to 20 developers.

The reason for the cancellation was cited as internal restructuring and ongoing layoffs. This prototype was likely among the unannounced projects Don’t Nod paused in September 2024, leading to a wave of layoffs and a financial streamlining effort in April 2025 aimed at cutting five million euros in costs. The team members from the scrapped RPG were reportedly reassigned to the new, high-priority game.

The key focus for the reassigned developers is an untitled project described as “one of the most important games in development” at the studio. This new IP is confirmed to be an open-world title, sharing similar ambitions in scope with the canceled RPG, indicating a continued push by Don’t Nod for large, AA-scale titles.

However, the open-world game is currently in early development and is estimated to be “years away from launch.” No official engine or codename has been confirmed, and a formal announcement is not expected in the near future.

It is important to note that the leaked projects are separate from Don’t Nod’s officially announced flagship title Aphelion. Revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2025, Aphelion is a cinematic third-person sci-fi action-adventure game emphasizing exploration, parkour, and environmental stealth.

Scheduled for a 2026 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S (including Xbox Play Anywhere and Game Pass Day One), and PC, Aphelion is set on the frozen planet Persephone. Key features include dual character perspectives, oxygen management, and a “Hide to Survive” mechanic against a hostile lifeform, developed with collaboration from the European Space Agency (ESA) for scientific realism.