Capcom's RE Engine Gets Enhanced Hair Technology Thanks to Pragmata Development

Capcom's RE Engine Sees Hair Tech Boost from Pragmata

Capcom continues to evolve its powerful RE Engine, with a recent development bringing advanced long hair simulation technology to the forefront. This enhancement, created specifically for the highly anticipated title Pragmata, is set to benefit a range of future Capcom games, as project producer Naoto Oyama explained in an interview with VGC.

The RE Engine first made its debut with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in 2017. Since then, it has become the core foundation for almost all Capcom games, powering everything from survival horror titles to action-packed slashers and even retro collections. A key strength of the RE Engine is its modularity: each development team adds new features and refinements that can then be integrated into future projects across the company.

"First and foremost, the RE Engine is what we created as the backbone for our games. Thanks to that, we have the opportunity to add anything we deem necessary to the engine. One of the clearest examples is Diana's hair, which consists of individual strands."
— Naoto Oyama, Pragmata Producer

For Pragmata, the standout technical innovation is the detailed hair of the android girl, Diana. The developers specifically requested that the engine team create full simulation support for long, flowing strands of hair, a significant step up from the RE Engine's previous capabilities, which were primarily optimized for shorter hairstyles.

During the interview, a VGC journalist playfully suggested that if future Resident Evil games feature zombies with long, flowing locks, players would have Pragmata to thank. Oyama simply laughed, giving a non-committal but intriguing reply: "It's hard to say."

Pragmata stands out as a rare original IP for Capcom, separate from its iconic series like Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, or Street Fighter. Announced back in 2020, its release has been postponed multiple times. The game, featuring its impressive hair physics, is currently in development for PC (via Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, with its launch now slated for 2026.

This investment in specific, high-fidelity graphical features like advanced hair simulation shows Capcom's ongoing commitment to pushing visual boundaries within its existing engine. For players, this means that the innovations made for a unique title like Pragmata will likely enhance the realism and visual quality of characters across Capcom's diverse portfolio for years to come.