Capcom’s upcoming sci-fi shooter Pragmata is trying to break your brain in the best way possible. The game features a unique multitasking combat system where you simultaneously control astronaut Hugh and his android companion Diana, solving real-time hacking puzzles while dodging killer robots and managing weapons. After hands-on demos at events like Gamescom and a playable Steam demo releasing alongside The Game Awards announcement, one thing is clear: this game demands your full attention in ways most shooters don’t.
Two Characters One Controller
Pragmata’s core hook is that you’re controlling both protagonists at the same time. Hugh Williams is the astronaut stranded on a lunar research station crawling with hostile robots. Diana, designated DI0367, is the mysterious child android who rides on Hugh’s back Ratchet and Clank style. When you aim at an enemy, Diana initiates her hacking abilities while Hugh continues moving and shooting. This creates a constant mental juggling act between solving puzzles and managing combat.
The hacking system works through grid-based puzzles that appear next to enemies when you aim down sights. Using the controller’s face buttons to navigate cardinal directions, you must trace a path from the starting point to the goal node. A simple flying drone might have a 3×3 grid requiring just three button presses, while larger humanoid walkers feature 4×4 grids with obstacles and special nodes to navigate around. The puzzles happen in real-time as robots close the distance, creating genuine tension.
Mental Multitasking On Another Level
What makes Pragmata fascinating is how it forces different parts of your brain to work simultaneously. The left stick controls Hugh’s movement as he dodges attacks and manages positioning. The right stick handles aiming and initiating hacks. Meanwhile, your conscious mind is solving the puzzle grid using face buttons while tracking enemy positions and choosing when to shoot. It’s like patting your head and rubbing your stomach while also solving a maze under time pressure.
Reviewers who’ve played extended demos describe it as surprisingly tense despite not being a traditional reflex-based shooter. The tension comes from constant prioritization decisions. Do you finish the hack before the robot reaches you or dodge away and start over? Should you abandon a nearly complete hack to avoid damage? Is your weapon the right choice for buying extra time? These split-second choices create satisfying moments when everything clicks together.
Weapons That Complement the Chaos
The weapons in Pragmata aren’t just damage dealers but tools for managing the multitasking chaos. The demo featured three weapon types that each serve strategic purposes. A standard pistol provides reliable ranged damage for chipping away at hacked enemies. A shotgun-like blast weapon delivers devastating close-range stopping power to create breathing room. Most interestingly, an area-of-effect stasis gun deploys a bubble that slows enemies caught inside.
That stasis gun represents the core philosophy of Pragmata’s combat: carefully managing enemy encounters rather than overwhelming them with firepower. Slowing a robot buys precious seconds to complete a complex hack. The shotgun staggers charging enemies when you need to dodge roll away and reset positioning. Every weapon choice feeds into the push and pull between offense, defense, and puzzle solving that defines combat encounters.
Upgrades and Progression
Throughout your journey, you’ll discover hacking nodes that provide permanent upgrades to Diana’s abilities. These populate hack grids with special tiles that, when passed through, apply additional effects like lowering enemy defense or dealing bonus damage after the hack completes. The demo also featured Multihack, an ability that presumably lets you target multiple enemies simultaneously once you find it later in the game.
Diana has an ultimate ability called Overdrive Protocol that stuns all nearby enemies and opens them to damage. This meter slowly fills each time you complete a hack, creating a risk-reward dynamic. Do you save it for emergencies or pop it proactively to clear a room faster? The IGN preview noted this ability felt less useful against single bosses compared to rooms full of enemies, suggesting encounter design will vary significantly throughout the campaign.
Boss Fights Crank Up the Pressure
The SectorGuard boss battle from the demo showcases where Pragmata’s systems could shine brightest. This bipedal mech launches multi-missile barrages that light up the arena floor with warning beacons as warheads arc through the air. Your job is avoiding the rocket spam while simultaneously burning through multiple layers of security firewalls. One hack won’t cut it against bosses, you’ll need to repeatedly solve puzzles as the battle rages on.
This is the multitasking juggling act at its peak. Watch the ground for missile warnings, track the boss’s position, dodge roll at the right moment, aim at the boss to trigger the hack interface, solve the grid puzzle quickly, fire your weapon during the damage window, and repeat. When everything flows together and you’re solving hacks almost subconsciously while your hands handle movement and shooting, it feels incredible according to hands-on impressions.
The Helldivers 2 Comparison
Multiple previews compared Pragmata’s hacking system to Helldivers 2’s strategem mechanic, and the parallels are striking. Both games force you to input button combinations under pressure while managing immediate threats. The difference is that Helldivers strategems are memorized sequences you learn through repetition, while Pragmata’s hacking puzzles are unique problems requiring active problem-solving each time.
This makes Pragmata potentially more mentally demanding. You can’t fall into muscle memory autopilot because every hack presents a different grid configuration. The game constantly forces your brain to switch between spatial reasoning for the puzzles and reaction-based action for the combat. It’s parallel thinking taken to an extreme, and whether that becomes exhilarating or exhausting will depend on individual player preferences and how well Capcom balances difficulty.
Exploration and Environmental Puzzles
Combat isn’t the only place multitasking matters. Hugh’s suit thrusters, used for dodging in battle, double as platforming tools for navigating the lunar station. You’ll hover over long drops and boost across gaps, repurposing combat abilities for exploration. Diana’s hacking extends to environmental systems, unlocking doors and restoring power to terminals scattered throughout the base.
The Gamescom demo tasked players with finding and hacking five terminals to restore power, but the environment design received mixed feedback. The sterile white corridors and identical rooms made navigation confusing, leading to accidental backtracking and running in circles. Whether this improves in the full game or remains a persistent issue could significantly impact the overall experience beyond the praised combat system.
Story of Symbiotic Survival
Pragmata’s narrative follows Hugh attempting to escape the lunar station and return to Earth while a hostile AI tries preventing his departure. Diana represents his only hope for survival since Hugh literally cannot damage enemies without her hacking support. This creates a symbiotic relationship where both characters need each other to survive, hopefully translating into meaningful story beats as their bond develops.
Capcom describes the game as depicting a near-future dystopian world on the moon through a deeply profound story and setting. Trailers show Hugh and Diana potentially visiting Earth locations that resemble New York City, though situated on the moon, suggesting the scope expands beyond just the research station. How Capcom blends their fondness for anime melodrama with grounded sci-fi tropes remains to be seen.
The April 2026 Release
After years of delays since its initial 2020 announcement, Pragmata finally has a concrete release date: April 24, 2026. The game will launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and notably Nintendo Switch 2, making it a significant third-party get for Nintendo’s new console. A playable Sketchbook demo is currently available on Steam, giving curious players a chance to test whether they can handle the mental multitasking.
The extended development time and multiple delays suggest Capcom is committed to getting this new IP right. As one of Capcom’s most interesting and experimental ideas in years, Pragmata represents a genuine attempt to break the third-person shooter mold rather than iterating on established formulas. Whether that ambition translates to commercial success or becomes a cult classic remains uncertain, but the unique gameplay deserves attention.
FAQs
When does Pragmata release?
Pragmata launches on April 24, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. A playable demo is currently available on Steam.
What is Pragmata about?
Pragmata follows astronaut Hugh Williams stranded on a hostile lunar research station. With help from android companion Diana, he must fight robotic enemies and escape back to Earth while a rogue AI tries to stop him.
How does hacking work in Pragmata?
Hacking uses grid-based puzzles that appear when aiming at enemies. You navigate from start to goal using face buttons while simultaneously controlling Hugh’s movement and combat, creating real-time multitasking challenges.
Who is developing Pragmata?
Pragmata is developed and published by Capcom. It represents a new IP from the studio behind Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Monster Hunter.
Can you play Pragmata solo?
Yes, Pragmata is a single-player third-person shooter. While you control two characters simultaneously (Hugh and Diana), it’s designed as a solo experience.
Is Pragmata difficult?
Based on preview impressions, Pragmata is mentally demanding due to its multitasking combat requiring puzzle-solving while managing movement and shooting simultaneously. The difficulty comes from juggling multiple tasks rather than pure reflex challenges.
What platforms is Pragmata coming to?
Pragmata will be available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
How long has Pragmata been in development?
Pragmata was first announced in 2020, making it roughly six years in development by its April 2026 release. The game was delayed multiple times as Capcom refined its unique gameplay systems.
Conclusion
Pragmata represents Capcom taking genuine creative risks with a major new IP. The simultaneous control of Hugh and Diana, combined with real-time hacking puzzles during combat, creates a third-person shooter unlike anything else on the market. Whether you find the mental multitasking exhilarating or exhausting will define your experience, but there’s no denying the ambition behind the design. The Steam demo offers a perfect opportunity to test if your brain can handle solving mazes while dodging killer robots and managing weapons all at once. For players tired of shooters that all feel the same, Pragmata might be exactly the brain-melting challenge you’ve been craving. Just don’t expect to play this one on autopilot. The game demands your full attention, and honestly, that’s refreshing in an era where so many shooters let muscle memory carry you through entire campaigns. Pragmata forces you to actually think while shooting, and that alone makes it worth watching as April 2026 approaches.