To get PC players hyped for Pragmata’s 2026 launch (and to test the game on a wide range of different specs), Capcom has released the totally free Sketchbook Demo. Lasting roughly 20 minutes, it showcases how Hugh’s experience as a spacefarer and Diana’s hacking skills intertwine to deliver a unique gameplay experience.
From puzzle solving to combat, almost everything in this demo centers on Diana’s unique hacking skills.
Puzzle solving is the easiest to explain. When faced with a troublesome mechanism, such as a locked door or inactive lift, Diana can hack into its system to help Hugh and herself navigate obstacles. The hacks take the form of simple minigames in which players must correctly follow a series of onscreen prompts to progress. For example, hacking an elevator requires Diana to align four icons (as seen in the image above) towards the center of the screen.
The way Pragmata switches between combat hacking and actual shooting is quite unique Considering Hugh’s weapons do almost no damage without Diana’s help, hacking serves as an opening act before delivering the catharsis that comes with shooting enemies in their weak points.
After aiming as you normally would in a third-person shooter, you can hold or press the hacking button (this can be remapped in the settings) to activate hacking mode. A small grid opens up on your HUD, and your conventional methods of aiming (such as the right analog stick on a controller or mouse movement) are swapped with hacking controls.
Your task is to draw a path from the starting point to the exit node within the specified time limit. Passing through colored nodes triggers different effects, and special hacking nodes can be found throughout your journey. These special nodes have limited uses but provide substantial buffs to Diana’s hacking abilities. The two available hacks in the demo are Multihack, which enables Diana to hack multiple enemies simultaneously, and Decode, which increases the damage taken by hacked targets. For balance reasons, only one type of special node can be held at a time.
Should you decide to exit hacking mode prematurely, a second press or release of the hacking button (depending on what option you choose in the settings) will allow you to do so. Several hacks may be required depending on the health or if the duration of a previous hack has expired on an enemy.
As Diana continues to hack targets, she builds up charge for her Overdrive Protocol, a powerful ultimate attack that deals damage, stuns enemies, and opens them up for Hugh’s attacks. While this mechanic only presents itself toward the end of the demo, players will want to keep it in mind for Pragmata’s full release.
Going back to combat, hacking mode closes once Diana has hacked an enemy. This gives Hugh the chance to get in and deal damage with a wide array of weapons. While he always has access to his Grip Gun (the default handgun with respectable damage and high stopping power), he can also pick up powerful weapons like the Shockwave Gun (a shotgun-like weapon) and Charge Piercer (a chargeable railgun). Like Diana’s special hacking nodes, weapon pickups have limited ammunition and can only be carried one at a time. Finishing the Sketchbook Demo for the first time unlocks a new weapon and hacking node, incentivizing replays alongside the demo’s completion timer.
One of the biggest questions players may have about Pragmata centers on how difficult it is to balance combat hacking, shooting, and evasion.
While hacking, you are locked into Hugh’s default shooting strafe movements and can only perform short dodges and jumps. It is for this reason that you might want to make the hacking button a “hold” function, as you can easily switch to Hugh’s more mobile third-person sprint.
To put it simply, combat in Pragmata is all about multitasking – learning when to aim and hack and when to reposition yourself. But while the Sketchbook demo features sections with multiple enemies, I never felt overwhelmed by their numbers. This is largely due to the available hacking nodes and weapons, the most important of which can be found when you need them most. The Shockwave Gun and Multihack hacking node, for example, were readily available in areas with lots of enemies.
Pragmata’s unique style of combat takes some getting used to, but the learning curve is quite forgiving. The demo slowly introduces new mechanics and enemies before opening up and letting you lose. Even at the height of combat, it never shuts you in a room full of enemies without the tools to fight your way out.
Puzzle solving and combat aside, I cannot fail to mention Pragmata’s surprisingly fluid traversal and movement mechanics showcased in the demo. Thanks to his spacesuit, Hugh can jump and float across long distances. He can also perform a dodge maneuver that provides a short-distance boost. The suit comes especially handy while in hacking mode, as it allows you to jump and dodge enemy attacks. Dodging an enemy attack at the last second triggers a short slow-motion effect that gives you ample time to complete a hack or get your bearings. It should be noted that all of Hugh’s movement skills, except for walking, running, and jumping, pull from a limited resource that replenishes over time when not in use.
Pragmata’s Sketchbook Demo is a great way to know if the game is up your alley. Not everyone will be a fan of the abundant hacking mechanics, but those looking for something new will find it intriguing. The majority of the demo focuses on hacking and combat, while platforming and traversal take a noticeable backseat. As this is a story-focused, single-player game, Capcom has seen fit to keep the narrative under wraps until the full game releases.
Pragmata is set to launch in 2026 for Windows (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X❘S, and Nintendo Switch 2. A demo is currently available on Steam.
