It has been a long road since Pragmata first piqued my curiosity back in 2020. I finally had the opportunity to go hands-on with it earlier this year at Gamescom, and I left the session feeling both deeply impressed and slightly slighted by Capcom for limiting my demo to a mere 20 minutes. Following a striking new trailer at The Game Awards 2025—which showcased a hauntingly beautiful, distorted New York City as a departure from the lunar environments we’ve seen—Capcom has released a public demo. It mirrors the experience I had earlier this year, and I cannot recommend it enough. It brilliantly highlights Pragmata’s eccentric DNA, blending fluid third-person shooting with inventive, real-time hacking puzzles.
“From its inception, our vision was a ‘buddy-action’ experience where the player manages two distinct characters through a single controller,” director Yongchee Cho explains. While the team originally considered giving the protagonist, Hugh, a combat drone, the concept evolved significantly once they finalized the android Diana as his companion. This shift birthed the hacking system, creating multi-layered gameplay where several actions occur simultaneously. When you combine this with a cryptic narrative and landscapes warped by the mysterious ‘Luna Filament,’ the title Pragmata begins to feel very appropriate.
“The name is derived from Greek, signifying things, actions, or tangible facts, and it carries a philosophical connection to pragmatism,” Cho notes. “Choosing a single word with such dense layers of meaning felt like the perfect anchor for this specific world and story.”
That aforementioned Luna Filament is the catalyst for the surreal transformation of Times Square seen in the latest footage. This alien substance won’t stop at New York; it is set to reshape various locales throughout the journey. Cho emphasizes that this phenomenon is central to the sci-fi identity Capcom is forging.
“We want players to immerse themselves in a sci-fi universe that feels entirely unique to Pragmata, extending beyond just the characters and their bond,” he says. “You will explore regions twisted by the Luna Filament, where irregular architecture and strange physical reactions create an atmosphere that is simultaneously alien and captivating. Whether you are a die-hard sci-fi fan or not, the game is designed to spark constant curiosity. I’m personally excited to see the creative ‘super-plays’ the community comes up with once they master the mechanics.”
These high-level plays will be executed by our unlikely duo, Hugh and Diana. Cho describes Hugh as a character who may appear detached or even reluctant at first glance, but who possesses an unwavering sense of duty. This makes his pairing with Diana particularly compelling.
“He might seem cold initially, but he is fundamentally a kind soul,” Cho adds. “While Diana might have felt like an encumbrance during their early moments, his perspective shifts as they navigate the perils of the space station. He begins to see her as someone worth protecting. We took great care to convey Hugh’s internal growth not just through dialogue, but through his protective actions during the heat of combat.”
Diana serves as the perfect foil to Hugh. An android endowed with immense AI processing power but zero lived experience, she is driven by a pure, unadulterated curiosity. “She was originally meant to remain on the Moon,” Cho says. “But her encounter with Hugh gives her a newfound sense of agency. As they travel, she becomes a student of Hugh’s experiences, growing increasingly mesmerized by the prospect of Earth and the mysteries it holds.”
The aesthetic and narrative of Pragmata are a tapestry woven from diverse influences. Cho notes that the character-centric storytelling is inspired by classic human dramas, the visual scope draws from Hollywood blockbusters, and the mechanical designs pay homage to Japanese animation. “It isn’t just a collection of tropes,” he insists. “We’ve synthesized these inspirations while maintaining a singular atmosphere that ensures Pragmata stands in a league of its own.”
With Pragmata scheduled for an April release, we are on the home stretch. If the current demo is any indication of the final product, Cho and his team at Capcom are currently carving out one of the most refreshing action titles in years.
