Capcomjust showed off a string of new games during its Spotlight stream, and there is a lot to be excited about. Aside from returning IPs likeResident Evil, Capcom also showed off a brand-new IP that looks very exciting. The game features some relevant themes in its story, and its gameplay looks like a fun mix of puzzles and action. Between this new game, and returning favorites, next year is shaping up to be an exciting one for Capcom, and for fans of their games.
I wasn’t going into the Capcom Spotlight with high expectations for muchbesidesResident Evil: Requiem. Although I know many players are likely excited about theStreet FighterandMonster Hunterupdates, I’ve never been a big fan of those IPs. However, pretty quickly Capcom managed to get me excited about their upcoming IP that will be debuting next year, especially because it seems to share some traits with one of my favorite survival horror games. If you didn’t watch the presentation, I definitelyrecommend checking out the videos about this new game that will be coming out in 2026.
What We Know About Pragmata’s Story
Pragmata Is A Sci-Fi Game Set On A Malfunctioning Lunar Base
Pragmatais part action game, part puzzle solver, set in a sci-fi futurewhere modern technologies like generative AI and 3D printing have advanced far beyond their current capabilities. Players take on the role of Hugh Williams, who has been sent alongside a small team to investigate a malfunctioning research facility on the moon. Hugh ends up separated from his team and injured, but is saved by an android that looks like a young girl, who he names Diana.
The preview describes Hugh as sarcastic, while Diana is the classic “born yesterday” trope of a character who approaches the world with a lot of wonder and curiosity.This will likely allow them to play off one another pretty well, and I would imagine we’ll see Hugh grow a bit less jaded over the course of his time with Diana. The game’s central conflict and gameplay also suggest that, while Diana acts and looks like a young child, she also has a deeper understanding of the station’s technology.
It quickly becomes apparent that the other machines on the station are going haywire, and have become hostile towards Hugh and likely the rest of his team. Diana is able to help Hugh combat the station’s machines by hacking into their systems and exposing weak points in their armor. Together,Hugh and Diana have to fight their way through the stationto get Hugh back to Earth.
Pragmata’s Gameplay, Explained
Pragmata Is A Shooter With Unique Puzzle-Solving Elements
Pragmatais a third-person gamewith an interesting gameplay loop. Enemies in their natural state can’t be hurt by Hugh’s weapons, sothe player will need to use Diana’s hacking ability to make them vulnerable. This involves solving a grid puzzle which pops up on the screen when you begin hacking. You are tasked with creating a path between the starting space on the grid and a marked tile.
As seen in the game’s preview,these puzzles become more complex when dealing with more powerful enemies. For instance, places on the grid may be blocked off, forcing you to essentially work your way through a maze to complete the puzzle. There are also optional blue nodes for you to pass through on the grid which give you a damage boost, and keep enemies vulnerable for longer. You can stack these for bigger bonuses, but it also means having to solve a more difficult puzzle to do it.
Hugh appears to control similar to most third-person shooters,though he does have a quick lateral dodge thanks to his space suit. In the trailer, the dodge also appears to slow down time a bit, though I’m not sure if this is an upgrade, or a reward for a well-timed dodge, or simply how the dodge works every time. Combat appears to be a balance of keeping Hugh safe, solving puzzles, and taking out enemies.
Why Pragmata Should Be On Your Wishlist
Pragmata Has An Interesting Setting And Unique Gameplay
Although the setting is much cleaner and less horrific,Pragmatareminds me of a game I’m very fond of,Dead Space,both in story setup and gameplay. However, instead of simply dissecting enemies by firing at a strategic point on their body, you also have the new puzzle element added on, which I think will create some genuinely stressful scenarios in combat.
I have seen some players online express concern that the puzzle aspect of combat could get tiring over the course of the game. After all, you’re essentially being asked to complete a hacking mini-game every time you want to shoot something. I thinkas long as you go intoPragmataseeing it as part puzzle game, then I don’t see it being an issue. That said, I’ve also sunk an inordinate number of hours intoCatherine, so I have a high tolerance for games that blend action and puzzle-solving elements.
Although story details are somewhat scarce at the moment, I am interested in learning more about the game’s setting, and to see how a topical subject like generative AI is tackled byPragmata’s story. If there’s one downside toPragmata, it’s thatI can’t look at Diana without seeing the eponymous killer robot from the movieM3GAN. However, I’m sure this superficial issue won’t matter much if I become engrossed in the game’s narrative.
2026 Is Going To Be A Great Year For Capcom
Pragmata And Resident Evil: Requiem Are Both Releasing In 2026
Pragmataisn’t the only exciting 2026 release coming from Capcom. The extended look atResident Evil: Requiemfrom the Capcom Spotlight, which you may watch onYouTubeif you missed it, made me even more excited than I already was for the game. I’m glad that first-person perspective is returning and that the new game focuses on a fresh character. I’ve always preferred the horror element toResident EvilandResident Evil 7is one of my favorite games from the series, so I’m glad thatResident Evil: Requiemis leaning into the elements that made that game so scary.
Although I’m sure some fans are disappointed that Leon S. Kennedy won’t be returning forResident Evil: Requiem, I agree with Director Koshi Nakanishi’s sentiments that Leon is abad fit for a horror game, because nothing would scare him. Overall, I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen from the game, and I can’t wait for it to terrify me in February. Between an exciting newResiden Evilgame andPragmata, I thinkCapcomwill be having a pretty good year in 2026.
