Branching Path: Pragmata might just end up being worth the wait

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At the PlayStation 5 unveiling event, Capcom unveiled a completely new game titled “Pragmata.” Since then, our knowledge about this game has been limited to a brief teaser trailer and few details. We didn’t know what kind of gameplay it offered, its genre, or anything else. However, during the Summer Game Fest 2025, everything has transformed dramatically. The release date for Pragmata has been set for 2026, and we had an opportunity to play the game ourselves. Although we’re not entirely certain whether it falls under the RPG category – there are indications of RPG elements that could potentially match our interests, but Capcom is still holding back on providing a clear explanation – it appears that Pragmata has enough intrigue to justify your attention in 2026.

At first glance, Pragmata appears to be just another third-person shooter game. But it has a unique twist: enemies have high resistance to damage initially. This is where Diana’s ability to hack machines comes into play. When aiming with L2, players can navigate a cursor through a mini hacking puzzle using the face buttons, all while keeping full control of their character. The objective is to reach the green icon on the grid, avoiding obstacles and highlighting boosts in the process. Successfully connecting more blue icons before finishing the hack increases the duration an enemy remains vulnerable. During a hack, players can collect consumable icons that provide additional effects when connected, such as a debuff that weakens enemies even further.

remarkably, the mini-game involving hacking functions exceptionally in intense battle situations. Although employing extra impairments can be advantageous, requiring players to strategically maneuver around or focus on them to determine when consumables should be used adds an extra layer of complexity to gameplay. As protagonist Hugh possesses a weak pistol that automatically reloads its ammo, various other weapons can also be acquired throughout the level. Shotguns inflict much greater damage with each shot, but compel Hugh to get close to enemies – and have a prolonged reload time. Other weapons aren’t only for causing harm directly; a Stasis Nest, for instance, creates an area that stuns any enemy within it, making it less taxing to expose the enemies’ weaknesses by hacking them.

During breaks from battles, Diana’s skills are also employed for solving puzzles. Switching off and turning on machines when required; adjusting or raising platforms. These mini-games don’t always follow a set pattern either. Sometimes you just have to press each face button a certain number of times to finish a circuit. On other occasions, you’ll encounter pressing a specific sequence of face buttons. Although it’s uncertain how engaging these will feel after several hours of gameplay, for now they keep your interest without causing the game to slow down excessively whenever an object demands interaction. The fact that not every item in the game necessitates this extra input is a plus.

During gameplay, we occasionally acquired a type of in-game currency through treasure chests and defeated enemies. A character mentioned the potential for upgrading equipment, but during the demo, we didn’t find a way to execute this. Capcom shared they weren’t yet prepared to discuss the game’s advanced progression systems. At first glance, Pragmata appears like Resident Evil in terms of managing resources, but I hope it also includes enough RPG aspects for us to reconsider our interest.

Capcom seems to be onto something extraordinary with Pragmata, and it’s evident that the team is well aware of its potential. Our demonstration concluded just as we encountered a boss battle, which undeniably caused the chuckles I overheard when I stepped into the open arena for the fight. I swapped out my depleted weapons for fresh ones lying around before triggering the cutscene. Here’s hoping we’ll be able to share more about this game in the upcoming months.

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2025-06-11 18:26