Gamescom 2025: Capcom's New IP Shines in a Promising First Demo
Capcom made a strong impression at Gamescom 2025 with a breathtaking demo of Pragmata, its brand-new sci-fi IP. One thing is clear from this first look: we may be witnessing a game that could redefine the narrative shooter landscape.
After years of mystery and a remarkable comeback during the June 2025 State of Play, Pragmata is finally showing off its gameplay mechanics at this year’s Gamescom in Germany. Capcom’s ambitious new IP transports players to a ruined lunar station, where an unlikely duo awaits: a battle-ready astronaut and an android girl who can hack into virtually any system. The playable demo only heightens the anticipation.
Image credit: Capcom
A Lunar Atmosphere and a Captivating Duo
In Pragmata, you play as Hugh Williams, a space-suited explorer navigating a chaotic lunar base. At his side is Diana, an android who looks like a young girl and contrasts the bleak environment by using her hacking skills to neutralize hostile machines. Their bond, already evident in the demo, forms the emotional core of the experience.
Visually, the demo impresses with its cold and immersive art direction, complemented by a tense, atmospheric soundtrack. Capcom showcases its technical prowess through an engine that fully leverages the power of current-gen platforms.
Real-Time Hacking: A Tactical Breakthrough
Pragmata reinvents combat mechanics with a unique grid-based hacking system that turns every encounter into a high-stakes puzzle. Players must navigate a grid interface using the Square, Triangle, Circle, and Cross buttons to reach a green node that disables enemy defenses.
This innovative system introduces multiple challenges at once:
- Directional navigation: certain nodes can only be crossed in a specific direction
- Time pressure: hacking happens in real-time as robots continue to attack
- Motor coordination: dodging projectiles while solving puzzles requires sharp reflexes
- Psychological stress: think “defusing a bomb while playing dodgeball” — a perfect metaphor for the pressure
SectorGuard: A Nerve-Racking Boss Fight
The highlight of the demo is the showdown with the SectorGuard, a war machine equipped with missiles and turbo boosters — features added exclusively for this Gamescom presentation. This boss battle perfectly encapsulates Pragmata’s core design philosophy: blending reflex-based action, tactical thinking, and perfect timing.
The battle demands full command of the game’s mechanics. Hugh’s limited thrusters force players to calculate every dodge, while timing a hack becomes crucial. The diverse arsenal — including an energy net launcher that slows enemies and a devastating shotgun — compensates for the fragility of weapons that break once their ammo is depleted.
To truly grasp the depth of this gameplay innovation, we highly recommend watching the full gameplay sequence captured by GameSpot below. The multi-minute footage clearly shows how Pragmata maintains a constant tension between fast-paced action and cerebral decision-making — especially during the climactic SectorGuard fight.
A New Benchmark for Futuristic Third-Person Shooters
Pragmata is already shaping up to be one of Capcom’s boldest entries in the third-person shooter genre. By fusing intense action with real-time puzzle-solving, this Japanese title crafts a one-of-a-kind experience where each victory is earned through a balance of precision and tactical thinking.
Slated for release in 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, this first hands-on at Gamescom is already enough to stir serious excitement. With Hugh Williams and Diana, Capcom may have found a new iconic duo that could leave a lasting mark on gaming — right up there with the publisher’s most legendary franchises.
