At the moment, Pragmata is extremely difficult to describe. Capcom says that it’s a game about a dystopian sci-fi world on the moon, which sounds compelling, but Pragmata’s highly abstract trailers have shed little light on its broader story. In other words, Pragmata is a total mystery. To a certain extent, that air of mystery is working in the game’s favor, but the drawbacks can’t be underestimated either. Pragmata belongs to an entire generation of games announced well before their release that may have been better off continuing their development process behind closed doors.

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The Ups and Downs of Pragmata

In a way, the mystery around Pragmata is a good thing. The handful of clues that Capcom has provided about the game suggest that Capcom is actively trying to create a sense of mystique around Pragmata, keeping fans interested by means of the game’s endless possibilities and unanswered questions. The masked protagonist, strange young girl, and elaborate technology at the center of Pragmata are definitely notable talking points, and speculation about the game helps to keep excitement alive. Video game fans love a mystery, so Capcom is wise to present Pragmata as a challenging riddle for the time being.

At the same time, Pragmata struggles to sustain itself with nothing but a mystery to define it. Capcom hasn’t provided any concrete details about the game’s plot or gameplay, meaning it’s hard to pin Pragmata down and get a clear picture of it. Fans can only speculate for so long, especially when Capcom isn’t releasing new Pragmata teasers or trailers regularly. Without material to go off of, Pragmata fans have little choice but to eventually devote their attention to games with more clear-cut futures instead. In other words, Pragmata is increasingly at risk of getting lost in a game industry that’s moving faster than it.

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While Pragmata’s situation is precarious, it’s also not unique at all. Tons of game studios have taken to announcing games years before release and then providing fans with almost no information about the games. Nintendo announced Breath of the Wild 2 years ago with minimal information, Microsoft has been sitting on Fable and Perfect Dark reboots for a long time, and Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls 6 is likely years away in spite of getting announced in 2018. These games have varying levels of staying power, but they all belong to a curious trend of early announcements that lead to long waits.

Pragmata may still be able to thrive in the long run if Capcom handles it properly. A gameplay or story reveal in late 2022 could act as the first real introduction to Pragmata, hitting the reset button on its visibility. A major publicity push when Pragmata’s release draws near may make up for the years of silence. Capcom has to fight hard in order for Pragmata to succeed; unlike Fable or The Elder Scrolls, Pragmata doesn’t have the luxury of an established franchise’s reputation when trying to entice and retain fans. It’s a new title that needs to carve out a place for itself in the game industry. Hopefully the air of mystery around Pragmata eventually proves to have been more helpful than harmful.

Pragmata releases in 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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