PRAGMATA is CAPCOM’s upcoming sci-fi action-adventure where protagonist Hugh finds himself stuck on the Moon with an android companion. Read our review of its demo to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Everything We Know About PRAGMATA
PRAGMATA Plot
A lone astronaut, Hugh Williams, is stranded on the desolate lunar surface after a moonquake separates him from his peers. He soon encounters a Pragmata named Diana, an android girl with the unusual ability to manifest digital projections and hack her way into the lunar base’s hallways. Yet, the lunar research station they hoped would offer sanctuary proves to be hostile, as they are immediately caught in an unforeseen conflict with a rogue AI, which has seized control of the station’s remnants.
To survive and find a way back to Earth, Hugh and Diana must brave the moon and the lunar station and battle robotic enemies that are seemingly influenced by the rogue AI.
PRAGMATA Gameplay
Pragmata is a third-person action game in which the player directly controls Hugh, the game’s protagonist, who uses conventional firearms and short-range propulsions to move and evade, while Diana, his android companion, performs hacks on opponents. Enemies have armors that resist direct fire until the Diana completes a vulnerability sequence; only after that are conventional weapons able to inflict damage. The player has access to multiple weapon types seen in demos (e.g., a pistol, a shockwave gun, trap gun) and a boost/jump/dodge that is used both for positioning and to avoid incoming attacks during hacking sequences.
When engaging an enemy, Diana projects a node grid, and the player (via the companion’s cursor) must trace paths or select nodes to reach target tiles, avoid obstacles, and optionally activate bonus nodes that modify the encounter. Those hacking puzzles run while the player’s character continues to be vulnerable and mobile. Different enemy types and encounters use variations on the grid and node rules.
Exploration in Pragmata takes place within a lunar research station. Players explore these areas using Hugh’s jet boots to quickly go about hallways and open spaces. Diana’s Hacking skill is instrumental here, as she is able to give Hugh access to previously unreachable areas or activate necessary systems to progress.
PRAGMATA Release Date
PRAGMATA is set to release the full game on April 24, 2026 for Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The game can now be pre-ordered on any of its storefronts for $59.99 (Standard Edition) or $69.99 (Deluxe Edition).
| Digital Storefronts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 PSN |
 Xbox |
 eShop |
| $59.99 | |||
PRAGMATA Review [Demo Review]
A Star in The Making
PRAGMATA…it’s been a long time coming. First announced way back in 2020, the sci-fi themed action-adventure game saw its fair share of delays over the past five years. Gamers (er, particularly me) began to wonder if this game would ever see the light of day. Delays aren’t anything new to the gaming community, of course, but with thousands of games coming out every single year, it’s hard to grab some of that spotlight for yourself, lest your game fades into obscurity.
Gone are the days of endless waiting for announcements, and PRAGMATA is finally slated for a definitive release on April 24th, 2026. Needless to say, I’m excited—I’m a sucker for the "found family" trope in various forms of media, and based on what CAPCOM has shown us about the game, this looks like it’s right up that genre too in some form or another. Will Hugh and Diana be my new Hank and Connor? We’ll find out…in April.
Luckily for us suckers, a demo called PRAGMATA Sketchbook is out. It’s a sweet little sneak peek into what we’ll be anticipating later this spring. And this short, 20-30 minute demo has done nothing but make me want more, and I believe proves that PRAGMATA should be one of the games you’d need to look out for in 2026.
Hugh, Diana, and The Abandoned Moon
Opening up to a slightly different version of the game’s 2023 teaser, the demo’s setting immediately starts at a point in the story where protagonist Hugh and the android girl named Diana have already established a friendship with each other, presumably after a certain amount of time. Now finding themselves in the Solar Power Plant whose operations have ceased due to complications, the unlikely pair travel through waves of hostile AI robots to reach the top floor and restore power to the moon-based space station so that they are able to contact Earth for rescue.
There’s not much else to say about the story at this point in time. Details about the space station, the enigmatic Delphi Corporation, why Hugh was there in the first place, where in the world Diana came from, and more have yet to be revealed—bits of lore to look forward to during its full release.
Real-Time Shooting And Puzzle-Solving—Simultaneously
Based on what was shown in the demo, PRAGMATA’s gameplay revolves around exploration, solving environmental puzzles, and third-person shooter combat. You primarily control the hunkering, moving space suit that is Hugh Williams (yes, there’s a living, breathing person underneath all that mech). He is equipped with his trusty rechargeable ray gun, a jetpack that serves as his dodge, sprint, jump, and hover mechanic, and is able to pick up weapons scattered along and use it to his benefit.
Simultaneously, you are also controlling Diana, who is practically attached to Hugh’s back for most of the game. As an android who is able to hack into the AI robots and other technological devices around the space station, she helps Hugh out by unlocking doors, controlling panels in environmental puzzles, and in combat, breaking down enemy defenses and turning them vulnerable. When hacking in battle, she projects a grid of 3x3 to 5x5 onto the screen, where you trace paths by hovering over the spaces and special tiles to deal a certain amount of damage.
Sounds pretty easy, until you realize that you’re doing this in real-time, while also controlling Hugh. It sounds pretty crazy at first, but you can easily get the hang of it after a few tries, and is incredibly engaging. Your brain is constantly on overdrive while playing, focusing on both trying to keep Hugh alive and attacking the robot enemy while also thinking up puzzle solutions on the fly.
Immensely Engaging Gameplay
As a result of having your brain and fingers constantly working as you battle and work your way through the area, it makes for superbly enjoyable gameplay mechanics. In PRAGMATA, the battle sequences don’t give you time to rest, since you’re always on the move. Skillfully dodging and jumping as Hugh using the keyboard while also moving the cursor quickly as Diana—it gives a different feeling from standard shooter games. It’s satisfying when executed well, and doubly so when the opponent explodes into smithereens, crowning you as a victor.
The mechanic of controlling two characters at the same time is nothing new to the realm of gaming, but PRAGMATA seems to have perfected its own formula in Hugh and Diana, whose skills pair seamlessly together. This goes for not only in combat, but also in solving environmental puzzles. Hugh’s muscular astronaut chops are handy for platforming and general exploring, and when used with Diana’s prowess in the digital space to solve puzzles, it all makes for fascinating gameplay mechanics.
Top-Notch, Smooth Visuals
Aside from the gameplay, the visuals of the game are simply stunning, even at lower graphics settings. Everything looks great, little to no assets clipping into each other, high quality textures, and explosive, magnificent effects. I’m convinced that they inherently know their game is gorgeous—I appreciate the fact that the UI is small and unobtrusive, and it even fades after a set amount of time, allowing players to take in the graphics and even take quick snapshots without the pesky health bars and whatnot.
It doesn’t only look splendid, but also runs smoothly like butter. I swear, CAPCOM has probably animated every single darn strand of Diana’s silky and flowy hair with how much it moves—really prettily too! There were no frame rate spikes even when missiles and effects were flying all over the screen, and it all blended seamlessly together. Of course, mileage may vary depending on your computer specs, but its minimum specifications are rather generous, allowing for more accessibility across gamers.
Clunky but Realistic Hugh Controls
It’s more of a nitpick and it’s something that fits in perfectly with the game’s universe, thus it’s both a complaint and nod to the game’s hint of realism, but I do feel the need to point it out—Hugh sometimes feels clunky and slow to use. Controls-wise, he’s fine, but the execution of everything he does feels laggy and heavy, like he’s always a beat
Now, it’s a tiny complaint because I also acknowledge the fact that he is a burly-looking middle-aged man all decked out in space gear that probably weighs as much as a human person, while also carrying an android child on his back. He’s supposed to be cumbersome and hefty, and I appreciate that the developers took the time to reflect that.
Combat In Narrow Spaces
Depending on how you see it, it might be either a challenge or a point of frustration. Some of the combat sequences in the demo happen in rather narrow spaces, and you’re against not just the normal-sized robots, but the hulking ones that look like they’re an entire two heads taller than Hugh. There’s especially that one instance where you’re attacked by three robots in a room that’s also littered with stacked up storage containers.
In wider areas, this wouldn’t be much of an annoyance, but with the shifting third-person perspective and the constant zooming in and out can prove to be a bit of a problem when trying to dodge or aim properly, especially when you hit those obstacles and your vision is suddenly skewed. Then again, it may be a deliberately put mechanic for extra challenge as well.
Overall Conclusion
The PRAGMATA Sketchbook demo is a perfect bite-sized glimpse into what’s to come in April. Easily completed in 20 to 30 minutes (10 to 15 if you’re into speedrunning), it teases just enough without dealing all of its cards in one go. Visuals are stunning, controls are pretty smooth and are not janky because of technical issues, and the story so far sounds quite intriguing.
While PRAGMATA has long been on my wishlist, this fun demo has just got me hyped up even more for it. It’s looking promising, and I definitely can’t wait to learn more about Hugh and Diana’s journey on the moon.
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PRAGMATA Product Information
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| Title | PRAGMATA |
|---|---|
| Release Date | April 24, 2026 |
| Developer | CAPCOM |
| Publisher | CAPCOM |
| Supported Platforms | Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | RP |
| Official Website | PRAGMATA Official Website |
