Six years and a few notable launch delays. That’s what it took for Capcom to finally introduce a new franchise in 2026. They already have legacy franchises getting new releases. However, the biggest question looming over their head was whether or not they dare to explore something new. What makes it more challenging is an entirely new team is working on its development. That comes with its own sets of risks and rewards.

This was the story of PRAGMATA, another exciting title finally getting its time in the spotlight on all modern platforms. Looking at trailers, screenshots, and even demo highlights, I already got the sense that this game may just be at par with a ton of sci-fi-inspired RPGs. The expectation on my end was clear: all action, all exploration, with a storyline that will tie everything together seamlessly.

I was not prepared for the storm of emotions and action that came my way.

Maximizing your brain power

PRAGMATA operates like most action-packed RPGs with how combat works: you point, you shoot. To set that up, you play as Hugh. He is an engineer sent to a moonbase called the Cradle to investigate comms being down. As you enter the Cradle, something already feels off. Before you even get a chance to blink, you’re already plunging into danger as the AI that keeps it safe has gone rogue. By the time you come to, you’re attacked by one of the bots that helped you out. From there, must fight your way throughout the game to survive.

Luckily for you, a support android named D-I-0336-7 fixes you up. The android willingly helps you fight the rogue AI by hacking through them. Not only will the hacking deal additional damage, but it will help you identify enemy weak spots to exploit. However, to achieve the perfect hack, you are required to solve a puzzle-like board with nodes mid-fight. Essentially, you’ll be doing two things at once to survive and fight your way through the Cradle.

It’s the kind of mechanic that feels unique as the level of difficulty escalates with every encounter. Oftentimes, the hacking and the shooting are separate mechanics that are done to calmly set you up for the fights. Now, it’s do-or-die with the hacking increasing your odds of success immensely. Enemies are hard to defeat simply on the gunplay alone. And you will need to keep that in mind as you progress through the game.

Expansive world to complete and unlock

Speaking of progression, as you get out of that initial skirmish alive with D-I-0336-7, who Hugh cutely gives the nickname “Diana” to, you end up in a tram to the Shelter. Effectively, the Shelter serves as both your base of operations and a rest spot to retool before combat. As you go through every area of the game, you unlock newer features. These are REM Replicators, upgrades to your health, firepower and hacking skills, and access to more weapon schematics and nodes. Also, you can even set up matching suits for Hugh and Diana before heading out into the world again!

Once you have everything you need, you will venture out into areas in the Cradle that need to be restored. A lot of the areas are incredibly expansive. This allows you to explore and grab as many freebies lying around as you can. From the Lunafilament used for upgrades to newer weapons at your disposal, the game scatters these for you to find and harvest from the overworld. Of course, you’ll run into the occasional swarm of enemies but you have Diana, and Diana has you!

Diana’s hacking even extends into these as you progressively acquire new skills. As you progress, you’ll be able to remove map hazards, clear traps, and scale structures effortlessly. This fully allows exploration to be less of a drag. There are newer pathways to areas you previously couldn’t explore or made it easier to backtrack. Plus, there are stations that can be activated as save points and hangars to return to the Shelter that Diana can activate.

It’s a large hub to explore. You’re encouraged to get and know everything because this next part will have you strapped.

Building bridges back to Earth

Without completely spoiling too much, PRAGMATA‘s storyline is one you gradually feel and resonate with. Earlier, I mentioned that the whole reason Hugh and his team were in the Cradle was to investigate its unresponsiveness. In an unfortunate turn of events, Hugh gets separated from his team and has to go through the entire Cradle looking for a way to get back to Earth. Along the way, Diana resurrects Hugh from certain death and accompanies him throughout the excursion mostly to be a guide and helping hand.

Throughout the game, Hugh and Diana develop a strong bond that already borders a father-daughter dynamic. Originally, Hugh didn’t really consider himself as a parental figure since he doesn’t have kids of his own. However, he goes out of his way to ensure Diana’s safety and overall wellbeing – effectively giving human compassion and love to an android. Oddly enough, Diana almost certainly feels more human and would even want to join him back to Earth.

As you explore throughout the game, you also pick up schematics of real Earth objects that are processed in the Shelter’s REM Replicators. These are neat trinkets that Diana actually gets to play with, even to a point of bonding with Hugh through them. It’s the kind of heartwarming moments in between the chaos that reflects the dynamic that many people will truly appreciate.

Struggles picked, sacrifices made

Remember how the game encourages you to explore to know everything? All of that was intentional for Hugh and Diana to get down to the bottom of what really happened at the Cradle. As it turns out, the AI mainframe of the Cradle, IDUS went into disarray after the moonquake that separated Hugh from his crew. Along the excursion through the Cradle, the pair discovers and meets up with another android called Eight who has the answers to effectively contain IDUS through Diana.

Only for them to realize that there are far graver dangers ahead. So now, the objective is to survive till the end, get back to Earth and stop anything that gets in the way. All throughout, you as Hugh will be tested on not only keeping Diana safe, but also ensuring that she gets to experience Earth with or without him. For the parents and parental figures out there, you know this feeling all too well.

A GamingMatch Made in Heaven?

No matter how you slice it, PRAGMATA nailed everything in my list of expectations: the right mix of exploration, easy-to-master combat mechanics, and an emotional story that transcends culture and hits right in the feels. It feels like Capcom continuously revitalizes the RPG experience with newer concepts and mechanics that truly test players at the core. Matching it with characters that allow you to have an emotional investment in, and the game hits right in the feels in more ways than one.

It’s a game that gradually keeps you engrossed in the experience from start to finish. From approaching tougher and larger enemies to traversing the overworld to collect resources, every instance feels wholly unique. Furthermore, the game incentivizes rest and reset without fully losing progress in your adventure.

More than anything, it offers a fresh take on character dynamics that will leave you in an emotional mess. Whether you like it or not. Admittedly, the bond between Hugh and Diana is one that a lot of people simply resonate and potentially aspire to have. It’s a reminder of how deep the human connection can truly transcend. And even be the ultimate key to survival against all olds.

Not only does PRAGMATA get a Swipe Right, but this game truly deserves to be up there for Game of the Year contention.

nubia has gone with an interesting direction for their latest midrange gaming line.

While other brands continue to blur the line between what is a “gaming-centric” smartphone and a reliable all-around device, the brands’ nubia Neo 5 series has been made even more aggressively for gaming.

And in 2026 where smartphone prices are skyrocketing and consumers are looking for the best value proposition before spending, that doesn’t seem to be the brightest route to go.

nubia Neo 5 GT

The nubia Neo 5 GT is the series’ top-of-the-line variant, with up 512GB of storage and a Dimensity 7400 processor.

The biggest highlight of the new series is the built-in cooling fan and Vapor Chamber cooling system.

This eliminates the need for a physical cooler, which you usually get for free anyway but have to attach to a magnetic phone case and power with a USB-C wire.

I think taking away that hassle of a set-up allows users to concentrate on gaming itself, as what this device is chiefly intended for.

And the cooling system does what it is solely asked to quite well: keep the phone’s temperature a lot cooler.

Moreover, if you’re playing for hours, this comes in helpful for bypass charging (branded as “Charge Separation” by nubia) to keep the temperature low.

The same purpose can be leveraged for quick charging, as the device’s 6,120mAh battery supports 80W charging.

Now of course, I’ve exhausted the device for about a month, playing my usual go-to mobile titles. Here’s how the phone performed with each game.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

As expected, MLBB is one of those titles that ran on the device without any problems. I can play multiple rounds even without the cooling fan turned on, and with the performance mode set to Eco.

Dunk City Dynasty

My time with this device also allowed me to revisit the NBA and NBPA-licensed Dunk City Dynasty.

I spent a lot of time on this multiplayer 3-on-3 title. Performance went generally smooth, although I had some connectivity issues.

This was a letdown since I needed to compete in real-time with other players. Nevertheless, I was able to chalk up several wins with characters like Jordan Clarkson and DeMar DeRozan.

Call of Duty Mobile

CODM was perhaps the first real test for this device, and this is where the cooling fan and a balanced performance setting came in handy.

Panning went without hiccups, allowing you to focus on just shooting. The graphics look more refined, specially with the phone’s 6.8-inch display. And fitting enough, the device did stay relatively cooler (I played mostly indoors).

Battery drain, of course, was somewhere in the 12% to 15% range, and even higher when playing with mobile data. The network was somewhat stable during the sessions I played.

Wuthering Waves

I felt the nubia Neo 5 GT also excelled in distributing the resources for heavier mobile titles like Wuthering Waves. 

Especially during combat, I didn’t experience any stutters nor frame drops with the fast-paced battles, which involved slashing, flying, and sliding, among other mechanics.

Taps felt responsive as well. If anything, I enjoyed playing this title again on this handset.

For reference, here’s the graphics settings I went with:

Honkai Star Rail

Lastly, HoYoverse’s space fantasy RPG also worked wonders on the device. That’s with the high-performance mode (Rise) on and the cooler again aiding the experience.

Visual effects definitely looked crisp and smooth, at a high frame rate setting. At 439ppi, the nubia Neo 5 GT’s pixel density ranks among the highest in its class, for refreshed graphics.

The 512GB storage capacity is definitely a plus. Just downloading assets for the two RPG titles will cost you about 100GB of space already.

Look, OS

The nubia Neo 5 GT retains the familiar mecha-inspired finish, with a glossy back as if it has a glass cover. The lighting effects look a bit more toned down.

What’s good about the exterior design language is it took into consideration mobile gaming habits.

Even the tip of the USB-C charger was designed so that it doesn’t interfere when a user holds the phone in landscape mode.

The phone also has a completely flat back so you can just place it on a surface while playing or streaming.

The biggest adjustment is the placement of the volume buttons and power button on the right-hand side of the phone. That’s because of the cooling system’s exhausts.

And when I started using this phone, I did commit a lot of errors, tapping on the volume down button instead of the power button.

Going old school

New to the series are integrated playable wallpapers, which throw you back to the good old days of playing Snake and Tetris.

There’s also a 2048-inspired game but instead of numbers, you’re dealing with ball sports. The smaller balls (i.e. billiards, golf) combine to form larger ones (baseball, football) and you’ll have to make the most out of the space.

Admittedly, this took a lot of my time every day and even had some competitive runs with my partner as we tried to overtake each other’s high score.

Connectivity

As I’ve mentioned, on the downside, the device has had its unstable Wi-Fi and mobile data moments.

I experienced this especially with Dunk City Dynasty and the phone suffered amidst real-time head-to-head combat.

I do have a feeling my sessions just coincided with Holy Week, and networks may have been congested.

Still, it’s something to ponder, especially if you’re considering purchasing it for other purposes like in the case of TNVS or delivery riders.

Camera

Onto the camera system, the nubia Neo 5 GT’s main camera is a 50MP shooter. I mostly just had captures of myself, food, and the street view.

For a device of this caliber, the camera does feel intended for such everyday moments. Lighting is a most definitely a friend, and colors can be off sometimes.

There are no violent reactions overall, but I have seen better and more capable camera systems on similar-priced devices.

Here are some samples:

Anything else?

Outside of gaming, I have been able to utilize this device pretty much as how it is intended to be used.

I browsed social media, watched basketball highlights, spoke with people through messaging apps, used Gemini, checked the maps, and everything else in between.

I would say loading times are a little better compared with extremely cheap handsets. The audio quality, however, sounds flat and cheap for music and gaming.

You do get the nubia Buds GT with early purchase, although the sound quality is too bass-leaning and not much of the mids and highs.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The nubia Neo 5 GT is a Swipe Left. The addition of a built-in cooler and some OS add-ons make it enticing at first.

But for its price, you can already get a topnotch Infinix NOTE series device, or even a numbered series mid-ranger from the likes of HONOR, Redmi, or realme.

It’s understandably a niche device, but the value proposition feels off without a definitive punch and “all-around” offering.

At a time where consumers need more from manufacturers to justify price hikes, nubia went zagging with a more gaming-centric tool that doesn’t punch above its weight.

Living in New York City means two things when it comes to the kitchen: constantly negotiating with counter space and having the best drinking water in the country.

That’s exactly where a countertop reverse osmosis system like the Waterdrop M6H finds its place. It fits into apartment life surprisingly well, though not without tradeoffs.

Peace of mind

New York City is known for having some of the best drinking water in the country, and for most people, straight-from-the-tap is perfectly safe and dare I say: tastes the best, too. 

But using a reverse osmosis system isn’t necessarily about fixing bad water. It can also take already good water and filtering it down to a much finer level.

The Waterdrop M6H uses a 7-stage filtration system, which goes beyond basic filtration to remove things like heavy metals, chlorine, PFAS, and microplastics, which you might not think about daily but are still present in trace amounts. It also has UV sterilization, adding another layer of protection by targeting bacteria that may not be caught in filtration alone.

That extra layer of filtration becomes especially helpful when you have guests or family visiting. My parents, for example, have more sensitive stomachs, so even small differences in water quality can matter.

One tradeoff with reverse osmosis is that it also removes naturally occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium. In practice, it shouldn’t be a major concern for most people. Food, not water, should be the primary source of these nutrients.

Built for apartment living

One of the biggest advantages of the Waterdrop M6H is how easy it is to set up. There’s no installation, no need to touch your plumbing, and if you’re renting: no back-and-forth with a landlord. 

It sits on my counter like any other appliance. It’s roughly the size of my super automatic coffee machine, which makes it feel familiar and non-invasive. And just like my coffee machine, I get access to great drinking water with just a few presses.

For apartment dwellers like me, that plug-and-play design is a huge win. I could be living in my current home for years, but will likely still need to move out at some point. That means I can take the M6H with me no matter where life takes me.

Compact is both good and bad

That small footprint is what makes it viable in a city kitchen, but it also introduces the biggest inconvenience. 

Because the unit is compact, the water tank isn’t huge, and neither is the wastewater capacity. The built-in 135oz water tank capacity is large enough to get you through a good portion of the day. 

In practice, that means you’ll be refilling clean water and emptying the waste tank regularly, sometimes more than two times a day depending on usage. 

It’s not difficult, but it’s definitely more hands-on than a built-in system that runs continuously in the background.

Eats up precious counter space

Beyond just physically occupying counter space, the machine changed how I use my kitchen. 

The spot it takes is often the same area I would use for prepping food, whether that’s chopping vegetables, rolling or kneading dough, and plating meals. It’s also the same spot I use for putting dirty dishes before they get washed.

So while it technically fits, it reduced my working surface in a noticeable way. In a New York kitchen, losing even a small section of prep space can have a huge impact on one’s daily routine.

Bottle compatibility can be hit or miss

Another noticeable drawback of its compact size is the height clearance under the spout. If you tend to use taller insulated bottles, especially the narrow ones, they won’t always fit comfortably underneath.

I have a combination of tall and short ones, and so that means having to tilt the taller ones or filling them in stages, which interrupts an otherwise convenient experience.

Well thought-out experience

Where the Waterdrop M6H really stands out is in how easy it is to use. The touchscreen is intuitive without feeling overdesigned, and the preset buttons for coffee and tea temperatures are more than welcome. Thanks to its instant heating, I’m never waiting around for hot water when I want a comforting cup of tea after a chilly day out.

One of my favorite features is the ability to customize how many ounces of water you want dispensed. You can set it, place your glass or bottle underneath — as long as it fits — and walk away while it fills because it stops on its own. It’s a small detail that makes drinking clean water convenient.

It’s just a bonus that I’m more conscious of the amount of water I’m drinking on a daily basis.

The detachable glass pitcher is another thoughtful touch. You can take it off and pour directly to your vessel of choice, store it in the fridge for cold water, or use it directly for cooking.

Better than a filter pitcher

If you’ve used a standard filter pitcher before, the difference is immediate. 

With something like a Brita, you’re constantly refilling and waiting for water to slowly drip through the filter before you can use it. The Waterdrop M6H produces purified water much faster and on demand.

Even though I have to refill the tank daily, it’s still far less frequent, and far less tedious, than topping off a pitcher multiple times a day. 

Cost-wise, it also evens out over time. Instead of repeatedly buying smaller filters, you’re replacing one larger filter less often, with a more advanced level of filtration to show for it.

Is the Waterdrop M6H your GadgetMatch?

Even in a city with excellent tap water, a reverse osmosis system like the Waterdrop M6H can be helpful. It makes the most sense if you’re renting but still want better-than-tap filtration without dealing with permanent changes. 

While not as inconvenient as a Brita pitcher, it still requires daily maintenance. It is not the best fit if you’re already tight on counter space, cook frequently and rely heavily on your prep area.

A permanently installed reverse osmosis system will always win when it comes to pure convenience, and Waterdrop has great options for that. It runs continuously, requires less day-to-day interaction that you just forget about it, and it doesn’t take up precious counter space. 

For my current setup, the Waterdrop M6H is a practical middle ground. It delivers many of the same benefits in a flexible, renter-friendly form.

The Waterdrop M6H retails for US$429 before tax. Maintenance is straightforward: the replacement filter costs $79.99 and lasts about 12 months or roughly 1,100 gallons of water.

It isn’t cheap, but you can think of it as a long-term investment in your health. Its benefits aren’t immediate or obvious day-to-day, but something you’ll likely appreciate over time and thank yourself for later.