Famitsu readers still yearn for Pragmata despite its indefinite delay

In the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu, a poll lists Pragmata as the magazine readership’s third most wanted game despite its indefinite delay almost two years ago.

Pragmata received 466 votes, pushing it past big names like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, all of which actually look like they may release within the next year. And this isn’t a one-off or fluke, either. Since its reveal in 2020, Pragmata has been a consistent figure in these Famitsu reader polls and in recent years has frequently ranked within the top three. In fact, you have to go all the way back to September 2023 to find an issue of the magazine where it wasn’t one of the 10 most wanted games.

While the numbers are surprising, they don’t provide much context. We’ve seen just brief flashes of Pragamata over the last five years thanks to some pretty cinematics and brief snippets of gameplay, so it’s hard to understand exactly what Famitsu readers find so exciting. I’ll admit to being intrigued by the game after its reveal, but its rocky history has relegated it in my mind to the same place as Deep Down, another cool-looking Capcom project that garnered a lot of attention but never saw the light of day.

As it stands, much of what we know about Pragmata comes from official Capcom marketing copy, which describes the game as “an all-new action adventure title that depicts a near-future dystopian world on the moon through a deeply profound story and setting,” descriptions which are echoed on the PlayStation and Xbox stores.

Pragmata was delayed from 2022 to 2023 just six months after its reveal before being removed from Capcom’s release calendar altogether in 2023.

“It is with a heavy heart that we must further postpone the release of Pragmata,” the development team said at the time. “Our team is currently hard at work making the best game that we possibly can, but we need more time. We will continue to do our best to ensure that the final product is one that is worthy of your patience.”

Is Pragmata just another Deep Down, or might it make a return à la Fumito Ueda’s The Last Guardian and surprise even its most stalwart supporters? Is Capcom maybe holding out for a next generation release? It’s hard to say with any certainty, but what is clear is that Pragmata made a huge impression on the gaming public, and it would be a shame for Capcom to squander that kind of lasting excitement again.