As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the long-awaited game, Pragmata, that Capcom has been developing for quite some time now. The first glimpse of this enigmatic title was unveiled during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown, which gives you an idea of its development timeline. The prospect of finally getting my hands on a playable build of Pragmata was exhilarating!
Fast forward to this year’s Summer Game Fest: Play Days event, and lo and behold, there it was – a playable version of Pragmata! It’s not just a concept anymore; it’s a tangible game! The unique central mechanic of the game has the potential to evoke strong reactions, making Pragmata a game that people will either love or loathe.
In the not-too-distant future, the narrative of Pragmata unfolds as players explore a lunar space station. The protagonist, an astronaut named Hugh, discovers that he is not alone aboard the station; there seems to be a small girl present. This mysterious figure turns out to be Diana, though she is not a human child but rather an artificial intelligence. As Hugh and Diana embark on their mission to leave the station, they attract the attention of a dangerous AI named IDUS. Similar to Skynet, IDUS aims to eradicate all human life on board, which includes both Hugh, the human astronaut, and Diana, who appears human-like.
Essentially, Pragmata is primarily classified as a third-person shooter game, but Capcom is introducing some significant changes to the conventional formula. Instead of typical human enemies, you’ll encounter androids and robots in this game, which are armored robustly against standard firearms. To deal effective damage, the protagonist, Diana, must hack into these adversaries’ systems. When targeting an enemy, a puzzle-like interface appears on the right side of the screen. Players need to navigate the cursor through specific tiles to weaken the enemy. Once weakened, Hugh can use the assorted weapons found aboard the lunar station for attack.
Initially, the concept seems straightforward and innovative. However, as my brief playtime with the game progressed, it became increasingly complex and challenging. This is due to the fact that while Diana is hacking, time doesn’t actually freeze; enemies continue to advance. This can lead to distraction from the hacking puzzle, causing one to overlook the need for Hugh to keep moving to dodge incoming attacks. The situation becomes even more intense when multiple enemies are visible, as Diana might be attempting to hack an enemy while Hugh could accidentally step back and collide with another hostile robot, inviting further aggression.
It’s yet unclear how Diana’s hacking system operates during boss fights, as the demo concluded just prior to the game’s initial boss encounter. However, it will be intriguing to discover how Pragmata’s primary mechanic performs when facing a much larger adversary. At present, all that can be said about the boss is that it resembles RoboCop’s ED-209’s distant relative.
The engaging dynamic between characters Hugh and Diana in Pragmata’s unusual combat experiment could make it worth finishing. They seem to bond swiftly and display strong chemistry within a short time frame, which is crucial as they depend on each other for survival in the lunar station. Additionally, the game world appears promising with its sci-fi narrative fitting my preferences and visually appealing environments (except for Diana’s unruly blond hair during the demo, hopefully that gets addressed during development).
As a gaming enthusiast, I must say that Pragmata seems to be a game that’s either destined to become a beloved cult classic or a title that may face criticism for attempting too much. It’s shaping up to be a game that will undoubtedly evoke strong opinions among players.
However, if we look back at Capcom’s history, particularly the release of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess last year, it’s clear that Capcom thrives when they take risks. Pragmata is no exception, and it’s taking quite a leap. Will I find the combat system intriguing or frustrating? Time will tell if it’ll make me cheer with excitement or want to toss an expensive controller in anger because I got stuck during a hack while surrounded by a horde of killer robots.
But here’s the thing, after more than five years since its initial reveal, two delays, and now set for release in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, if Pragmata were just another third-person shooter, it would have been a bit dull. Capcom’s daring approach to this game is what piques my curiosity and makes me eager to see how it unfolds. Let’s embark on this adventure together when Pragmata finally lands on our gaming platforms in 2026.
The sneak peek we’re presenting comes from a preliminary demonstration held during Summer Game Fest: Play Days. Keep in mind that the finished product may still undergo changes.
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2025-06-11 18:29