Capcom's highly anticipated new title, "Pragmata," has finally launched after years in development. Beyond the game itself, the spotlight recently turned to David Menkin, the voice actor for protagonist "Hugh." In a recent interview, Menkin revealed the intense secrecy surrounding the project, admitting he was so paranoid about leaks before the official reveal that he even avoided talking about anything "moon-related." Talk about commitment!
Menkin shared that even as congratulatory messages poured in from players and streamers before the game's release, he couldn't publicly acknowledge his involvement – not even to his own family.
"I could reply to player messages, but I couldn't tell my own relatives what I was working on," Menkin recounted, describing the period as needing to "completely shut down" to dodge any potential leak risks.
"Pragmata" is a sci-fi third-person shooter set on the moon, where players step into the boots of astronaut "Hugh." Teaming up with the enigmatic android girl "Diana," Hugh must survive and investigate a research facility overrun by rogue robots.
Menkin joined the development team in 2024 to lend his voice and performance to the character. He recalled that the game, originally slated for a 2022 release, ultimately launched on April 17, 2026, marking a truly extensive development journey.
During production, Menkin participated in script read-throughs with the actor playing "Diana" to get a head start on understanding their character dynamics and the game's world. However, actual recording sessions were conducted separately, a common practice in the gaming industry, with performances later stitched together. He likened this acting process to performing opposite a virtual entity, demanding immense imagination and relying heavily on the director and sound team to bring the full vision to life.
As "Pragmata" is an entirely new IP, Menkin admitted there was no pre-existing framework to guide his character interpretation. He had to dive in headfirst, embracing the uncertainty. He described this creative process as both nerve-wracking and incredibly exciting.
A self-proclaimed sci-fi and space enthusiast, Menkin has played astronaut roles multiple times and is particularly familiar with lunar themes. Yet, before "Pragmata's" promotional push, the tight-lipped restrictions made him hesitant to even share information about real-world space missions, fearing it might be misinterpreted as a hint about the game's content.
Now that "Pragmata" has officially launched, Menkin can finally spill the beans on his involvement. He described the prolonged period of secrecy as truly unique, once again highlighting the gaming industry's intense culture of confidentiality leading up to major releases.
via： Polygon