PRAGMATA sells over one million units in two days! AI daughter Diana captivates players, and even predicts robots will take over human jobs?

Capcom’s new game PRAGMATA: Human-Machine Maze sold 1 million copies in just two days! It focuses on shooting combined with hacker-puzzle gameplay and is praised for the standout performance of “AI daughter” Diana. The story also offers a glimpse of the future in which robots replace human jobs.

PRAGMATA sells one million copies in two days—Capcom’s completely new title wins praise

After PRAGMATA: Human-Machine Maze launched on April 17 this year, its global sales surpassed 1 million copies in only two days. It has also received overwhelmingly positive sentiment of as high as 96%. In addition, the number of player reviews on the Steam platform has already exceeded 12,000.

The game PRAGMATA is set on the lunar surface in a near-future world. Players take on the role of astronaut Hugh Williams, who travels to investigate a missing facility on the Moon. After an accident leaves him severely injured, he is rescued by the AI robot girl Diana (Diana).

This remarkable duo must work together—joining forces to take on the rampaging AI at the lunar facility and to find a way back to Earth. The main gameplay is a bit like a left-brain/right-brain matchup: you first play a grid-based puzzle to let Diana activate her hacking functions to break the enemy’s defenses, then you take control of Hugh to shoot the enemies for maximum damage, while also moving at the right times to dodge their attacks.

Image source: PRAGMATA official images

Apart from the relatively unique gameplay, the writer also felt that the development team put a lot of effort into Diana. Whether it’s CG animations during cutscenes or real-time in-game visuals, Diana performs many gestures that feel like those of a real little girl, making players unconsciously slip into the role of “old father.”

When robots steal human jobs, what are humans supposed to do?

In an early part of the game flow (which is also something the playable demo lets you experience), you can see a replayable afterimage: two humans discussing walkers (AI robots)—from handling chores to taking on major missions, they can do everything, as long as you manage them through the IDUS system. The robots arrive on demand—so what can humans do anymore? One person’s conclusion is: thinking up innovative concepts and exploring entrepreneurial opportunities.

Image source: the writer’s in-game screenshot

Meanwhile, another letter states that the work of lower-level employees at a power station in the game is now only managing robots. After clocking in and checking in for the day, they have nothing to do—they can only pretend to be busy, and they envy others who can work at the development front lines.

Image source: the writer’s in-game screenshot

Given the recent explosion of generative AI, there have been many voices claiming that AI will replace white-collar jobs. Therefore, even though PRAGMATA depicts a future after AI humanoid robots become widespread, it’s still quite easy for people to connect it to current affairs.

PRAGMATA development concept: blending old and new generations without competing on playtime or building huge maps

As a completely original new IP, constructing a world from scratch is a brand-new challenge. But this game has actually attracted many players for years—what drew attention wasn’t Capcom announcing it, but a video released when the game’s launch was delayed after the 2022 announcement, as shown below:

Before the official release, the PRAGMATA development team was interviewed by Japanese game media Famitsu and Shueisha VJump, revealing the game’s development framework and design concepts.

Producer Naoto Oyama said the game’s development lineup blends the young generation with seasoned veterans. The team includes experienced staff who took part in the development of the Resident Evil and Devil May Cry series, helping the younger generation express creativity alongside the guidance of veterans, and together building a brand-new gaming experience.

Game director Zhao Rongxi also mentioned that, to create differentiation in sci-fi action games, the development team combined traditional shooting elements with a hacker-puzzle system. Therefore, the core concept of having Hugh and Diana cooperate has never changed—from the very beginning of development.

The development team poured a lot of effort into balancing the shooting and hacking gameplay. The goal is to ensure that during play, players will make their own decisions about when to use hacking skills—then enjoy the thrill of shooting and destruction. Players can upgrade equipment in bases, and as the game progresses, they can freely choose a combat style that leans toward shooting or toward hacking skills.

The team also took into account modern players’ habits, setting the main story completion time at around 10 hours, and adding rich exploration and multiple round play elements.

Automaton review: PRAGMATA—a double-edged sword in both gameplay and narrative

From announcement to release, PRAGMATA took 6 years. During that time, it also had to overcome the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, it truly succeeded in achieving its mission of drawing players’ attention—yet the game media Automaton believes there are still things to regret.

Automaton noted that the game’s biggest highlight is that players can adjust the intensity of combat on their own. Players can also strengthen specific abilities by consuming resources, developing their own extreme tactics and gaining a sense of accomplishment through high-intensity multitasking.

However, the game’s hidden concern is that the hacker puzzles and shooting lack depth in terms of synergy. Additionally, because the main story lasts about 10 hours, the narrative pacing space is compressed, and the depiction of emotional changes between the two protagonists feels somewhat rushed. Also, the sci-fi setting largely serves the dramatic tension of the visuals rather than deeply resonating with the game’s worldview.

In Automaton’s assessment, PRAGMATA overall is a game that uses highly free custom gameplay to compensate for some narrative shortcomings. While the overall structure feels a bit stitched together, it still has solid fun and is able to fulfill the role of a new IP effectively.

On Metacritic, PRAGMATA currently has a media score of 86, while the player score is as high as 9, earning it consistently positive and generally well-regarded reviews.

Image source: Metacritic—media and player reviews for PRAGMATA on Metacritic