New Capcom Game Finally Fixes My Biggest Issue With a Major Ubisoft Franchise

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I’ve always been disappointed when games try to make advanced tech a big deal but don’t really deliver. The Watch Dogs series is a perfect example – it looks cool with all the hacking, but so often it feels like the tech is just window dressing. You’re hacking, sure, but in really simple, straightforward ways that don’t actually change how you play. It’s frustrating because the idea of truly manipulating the environment with tech is so exciting! But I’m really hopeful that Capcom’s new sci-fi game will actually go deeper and make the tech a core part of the gameplay, something Watch Dogs never quite managed.

By 2026, Ubisoft appears to have discontinued the Watch Dogs series. Once a promising franchise at the start of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 era, it struggled due to a lack of consistent direction. Each Watch Dogs game attempted to be a sprawling open-world experience, a gritty crime story, and a continuously updated live service, but these elements never quite came together. Although Watch Dogs Legion introduced some innovative multiplayer ideas, the series ultimately failed to attract a dedicated fanbase.

Pragmata’s Hacking Outclasses The Manipulation Of Technology Seen In Watch Dogs

Capcom’s Pragmata integrates hacking much more meaningfully into gameplay than Watch Dogs. While Watch Dogs used hacking for small advantages in combat, Pragmata requires players to actively use technology simply to survive. It’s not just an added feature; it’s essential to the experience, unlike the more standard action-adventure gameplay of Watch Dogs.

In Pragmata, enemies have strong outer defenses that are hard to break with weapons. To overcome this, you can hack them to access a hidden system of nodes. By navigating through the blue nodes and connecting to the green EXE node, you’ll put the enemy into a temporary “Open” state, making them much more vulnerable to your attacks.

In Pragmata, you’re constantly juggling multiple tasks. You can’t just focus on hacking – you still need to dodge enemy attacks and shoot while you’re doing it. This tests your ability to multitask effectively. As you unlock more weapons and skills, hacking becomes even more crucial, because the hacking challenges get harder depending on the enemy you’re facing.

Ubisoft’s Experimental Franchise Seems To Shy Away From Its Biggest Premise

It used to be difficult to explain what went wrong with the Watch Dogs games, but looking at Pragmata, the issues are now clearer. In the original Watch Dogs, hacking – which was a key part of the game’s initial appeal – ended up feeling secondary. Even as the sequels, Watch Dogs 2 and Watch Dogs Legion, focused more on open-world exploration, hacking never truly felt like a central, integrated feature – it always seemed like an extra addition.

Look, I didn’t dislike Watch Dogs, and I get what they were going for with the whole hacking and revolution thing. But honestly, the gameplay felt a little shallow. Like, yeah, I could control drones or mess with cameras, but it felt like scratching the surface of what hacking could really do in a game. It felt like they had a cool idea, but didn’t take it far enough. If they’d really leaned into the hacking mechanics and made them more central to everything, I think the game would have had a much stronger identity.

Synergy Of Combat & Hacking In Pragmata Offers More Dynamic Gameplay To Enjoy

Combining action similar to Resident Evil with intricate hacking mechanics creates a deeply engaging experience, especially fitting for Pragmata‘s sci-fi world. The core idea of hacking enemies, with the difficulty increasing as you progress, is surprisingly compelling and adds a welcome layer of challenge. Making hacking and combat even more intense on higher difficulty settings could make the game incredibly satisfying for players to master.

Seeing Ubisoft cancel so many games lately, Pragmata is actually looking really good. I love the idea of hacking in games because it can totally turn a tough situation around. Watch Dogs promised that hacking would help you escape, make missions easier, or just give you an edge to win. Honestly, Pragmata seems to deliver on that promise way more than Watch Dogs ever did. It feels like hacking will be genuinely crucial in that game.

Fans of the Watch Dogs series aren’t likely to see another game anytime soon, as there’s only a movie in the works. However, Pragmata, which is coming out this year, should satisfy players who enjoy games with advanced hacking elements.

Will Pragmata succeed where Watch Dogs fell short? Share your thoughts in the comments or discuss it with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-29 17:14