We’re always looking for what to play next. What’s new on the horizon that could keep us hooked for hours on end? Well, we are finally getting something like that. From the developers and publishers of franchises such as Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Devil May Cry, Dead Rising, Monster Hunter, Onimusha, and more comes Pragmata. Capcom’s new sci-fi adventure game, which finally has a release date after 6 years of its announcement. The hype around it is real, as Capcom fans have been anticipating this game for so long, given its potential. And thus the question comes – Can this be the Game of the Year 2026 winner? Let’s talk more about this below.
Capcom’s New Sci-fi Adventure Game: Pragmata
Though there are many games that are being anticipated for 2026, such as Saros, Crimson Desert, Forza Horizon 6, Marvel’s Wolverine, 007: First Light, and many more. But what makes Pargmata special is that it is Capcom’s new IP in over a decade. After announcing the game in 2020, they have used their time wisely and tried to make Pragmata a pure sci-fi action-adventure game that could set the foundation for games released this year. And could run for years to come.
Meanwhile, Pragmata is not the only Capcom game releasing this year. They are bringing Resident Evil Requiem this February, Monster Hunter Stories 3 in March, and both Pragmata and Onimusha: Way of the Sword to follow in April. Having the opportunity to make 2026 the publisher’s best year ever.
The first Pragmata trailer came out in 2020. It showed an astronaut-like man named Hugh walking in a city. He meets a young girl, who is later revealed to be an android. This trailer introduced the two main characters and the sci-fi world.
A new gameplay trailer shown at State of Play in June 2025 gave a deeper look at the game. It opens with the line “What comes after dreaming?” and talks about a group called the Delphi Corporation. A voice says, “The future. It isn’t just a dream, it’s a promise.” Later, it adds, “One we’re turning into reality. With our third generation of Lunafilament and advanced generative AI, we’re reshaping the line between dreams and reality. We create life for our future. Delphi Corporation”.
The latest trailer at The Game Awards 2025 confirmed the April 2026 release date. It shows Hugh and the android girl spending time together, exploring a futuristic city, and fighting robots. Highlighting their strong father-daughter-like bond makes the story more emotional.
Pragmata Story and Setting
Pragmata’s story follows Hugh Williams, who is sent with a team to check a lunar facility that has lost contact, as revealed in the Capcom Spotlight Showcase 2025. After a moonquake hits, Hugh is separated from his team. And he is saved by an android girl named Diana, who then becomes his companion.
Diana is first introduced as D-I-03367 in the “First Contact” trailer, before Hugh gives her the name Diana. Hugh is described as kind and “a bit sarcastic”, while Diana is said to be “curious and enigmatic”. The two must work together to survive inside the lunar research station.
In an interview, game director Cho Yonghee explained why Diana looks human-like: “We could have gone with a more robotic look, but we chose a human-like design to make her warm and relatable. That contrast between her humanity and the stark, cold sci-fi backdrop reinforces the emotional core of the story and gameplay.”
The game is set in the “near-future” and has a strong sci-fi feel. The lunar station was researching “a new material that can be used to 3D print almost anything”. The station is now abandoned, with only AI left behind, and Hugh and Diana must defeat the AI and find a way back to Earth.
Pragmata Gameplay
We’ve seen some Pragmata gameplay in the latest trailer, which shows how Hugh and Diana work together inside the research station. Diana can ride on Hugh’s back while he fights enemies, and she also uses a hacking ability. Yonghee explains that both characters have different skills, and players will be “controlling them both – at the same time – to overcome the many obstacles you’ll face” in the game.
Yonghee says, “This two-in-one approach, where Hacking is key to your success, is our own unique take on combat that you’ll only find here – in Pragmata”. He also adds that Capcom will share more details as they go “deeper into the combat experience in the near future”.
The game mixes shooting with puzzle-like gameplay as you control both characters. Diana’s hacking looks like a maze and is controlled with the right stick. By hitting special nodes and reaching a green power-on block, you can remove a robot’s armor and defeat it.
The Capcom Spotlight Showcase 2025 livestream also shows that combat starts by disabling enemies first. Diana’s hacking ability lets you move a cursor through a panel and activate blue nodes to open a robot’s armor, allowing Hugh to attack weak points. If Diana activates more blue nodes, the damage increases, and the armor stays disabled longer.
The trailer also shows movement around the lunar station using thrusters, which let Hugh jump across platforms. Hacking is not just for combat; Diana can also hack systems that “block your progress”, like locked doors.
Can This Game Win Game of the Year 2026? Here’s Why It Might
It’s still far too early to say whether Pragmata will take home Game of the Year in 202, but the potential is absolutely there. Capcom’s mysterious sci-fi title has been quietly building intrigue for years, and with each new reveal, it feels less like a question mark and more like a serious contender.
What immediately sets Pragmata apart is its unusual narrative setup. The relationship between Hugh and Diana isn’t just emotional; it’s baked directly into the gameplay. Controlling two characters at the same time, each with distinct abilities, hints at a fresh approach to storytelling and player interaction. If executed well, this dual-protagonist design could deliver something genuinely new in a genre that often plays it safe.
Then there’s the setting. Big, ambitious sci-fi games have been relatively rare in recent years, especially ones that lean into atmosphere, isolation, and mystery. Pragmata looks promising to fill that gap, offering a thoughtful sci-fi experience that feels more immersive and intense than many modern blockbusters.
Of course, 2026 is likely to be stacked. There will almost certainly be other highly anticipated releases, sequels from established franchises, massive open-world titles, and surprise hits we haven’t even heard of yet. Competition for Game of the Year will be cutthroat.
Still, Pragmata is firmly on the radar. If Capcom delivers on its ideas, tight gameplay, a compelling story, and a polished final experience, it could stand out in a crowded field. Winning Game of the Year isn’t guaranteed, but Pragmata has all the ingredients to be part of that conversation when 2026 rolls around.
Pragmata Release Date
After multiple delays and years-long silence, we finally have a release date for Pragmata. The shooter action game is set to release on April 24, 2026, which does not seem so far away now. This marks almost six years since its announcement, as the game was first revealed in 2020, during the official reveal of the PlayStation 5. While the developers were aiming for a 2022 release date further pushed it to 2023. But after that, fans only received an apology and dead silence on the project. And it wasn’t until 2025 that we finally got to see the game once more, and finally got a release date.
Pragmata Platforms
This game will be available toplay on the following platforms:
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC
Note: There is no confirmation on when or whether the game will be added to the lineup of upcoming titles for Nintendo’s new-generation console. We’ll be watching closely for any updates. For now, fans can wishlist the game on the store pages for all currently confirmed platforms.
Summary
While 2026 will have many big releases, Pragmata stands out as Capcom’s first new IP in over a decade. It’s too early to say if it will win Game of the Year, but it definitely has strong potential and is one to watch. Releasing on April 24, 2026, Capcom’s upcoming sci-fi action-adventure game lets you play as Hugh, an astronaut. And Diana, an android girl, as they try to survive inside an abandoned lunar research station. Controlling both characters at the same time, mixing shooting with hacking-based gameplay, alongside an emotional story, is what sets Pragmata apart from other games releasing this year.
Do you think Pragmata could be the winner for Game of the Year 2026? Let us know in the comments below. And for more gaming news, guides, tips, tricks, and more, don’t forget to check out Driffle blog.
