Capcom has kept itself busy in 2022 thanks to everything fromMonster Hunter RiseDLC to the confirmation of a newStreet Fightergame. New Capcom IPs are on the rise too, as the announcement ofExoprimalindicates. However, one new Capcom title hasn’t been nearly as visible in 2022 as fans of the company might like:Pragmata. The sci-fi game was originally planned for a 2022 release, but before 2022 even came around, the game was delayed into 2023. That early delay sent a clear message thatPragmatastill needed a lot of work, and Capcom was ready to sacrifice promptness in order to make the game succeed.
At the moment,Pragmatais extremely difficult to describe. Capcom says that it’s a game about a dystopian sci-fi world on the moon, which sounds compelling, butPragmata’s highly abstract trailershave shed little light on its broader story. In other words,Pragmatais 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.Pragmatabelongs 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 aroundPragmatais 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 aroundPragmata,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 ofPragmataare definitely notable talking points, and speculation about the game helps to keep excitement alive. Video game fans love a mystery, so Capcom is wise topresentPragmataas a challenging riddlefor the time being.
At the same time,Pragmatastruggles 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 pinPragmatadown and get a clear picture of it. Fans can only speculate for so long, especially when Capcom isn’t releasing newPragmatateasers or trailers regularly. Without material to go off of,Pragmatafans have little choice but to eventually devote their attention to games with more clear-cut futures instead. In other words,Pragmatais increasingly at riskof getting lost in a game industry that’s moving faster than it.
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Pragmata and Game Announcement Trends
WhilePragmata’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 announcedBreath of the Wild 2years agowith minimal information, Microsoft has been sitting onFableandPerfect Darkreboots for a long time, and Bethesda’sThe Elder Scrolls 6is 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.
Pragmatamay 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 toPragmata,hitting the reset button on its visibility. A major publicity push whenPragmata’s release draws near may make up for the years of silence. Capcom has to fight hard in order forPragmatato succeed;unlikeFableorThe Elder Scrolls,Pragmatadoesn’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 aroundPragmataeventually proves to have been more helpful than harmful.
Pragmatareleases in 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
