Pragmata has been making waves, garnering 466 votes and surpassing high-profile contenders like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond—games that are likely to hit the shelves in the coming year. Yet, this isn’t just a flash in the pan for Pragmata. Since its unveiling in 2020, it’s been a regular in the Famitsu reader polls. In recent years, it’s often found itself comfortably within the top three. In fact, you’d have to flip back to September 2023 to find an issue where it didn’t crack the top ten most desired titles.
Despite the impressive numbers, they don’t tell the whole story. We’ve only seen fleeting glimpses of Pragmata over the past five years, in the form of stunning cinematics and brief gameplay clips. This limited exposure makes it puzzling why Famitsu readers are so captivated by it. Personally, I found the initial reveal intriguing, but given its tumultuous development, Pragmata occupies the same skeptical part of my mind as Capcom’s previous project, Deep Down—a game that generated buzz but never quite materialized.
Currently, our understanding of Pragmata largely rests on Capcom’s promotional material. They describe it as “an all-new action adventure title that presents a near-future dystopian world on the moon with a deeply profound story and setting,” a vision echoed on both the PlayStation and Xbox digital storefronts.
When the development team announced yet another delay, they expressed their regret, saying, “It is with a heavy heart that we must further postpone the release of Pragmata. Our team is currently hard at work crafting the best game possible, but we need more time. We will continue to strive to ensure the final product is worthy of your patience.”
So, is Pragmata destined to follow in the footsteps of Deep Down, or could it stage a comeback like Fumito Ueda’s The Last Guardian, leaving even its most dedicated fans pleasantly surprised? Perhaps Capcom is angling for a release on next-gen consoles? While it’s tough to make definitive predictions, one thing’s for sure: Pragmata has left a lasting impression on gamers, and it would be a disappointment if Capcom fails to capitalize on this enduring enthusiasm.