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For the first time in several years, MLB The Show 25 players will not be getting a rough deal when they play on PS5. The series has been included at no extra cost with Xbox Game Pass for a while, a notable inclusion considering it’s developed by Sony subsidiary San Diego Studio. But that won’t be the case this time.
In fact, it’s a year of change for the series, as it’ll also be leaving behind the PS4 at last. The sim will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch from 18th March, with Digital Deluxe Edition buyers catching Early Access from 14th March. There’s no word yet on Nintendo Switch 2.
“In 2025, MLB The Show is celebrating its monumental 20th anniversary, a milestone that honours two decades of baseball history, innovation, and unforgettable memories for baseball fans around the world,” Ramone Russell wrote on the PS Blog.
“To mark this special occasion for San Diego Studio and PlayStation Studios, MLB The Show 25 proudly features not one, nor two, but three cover athletes for the first time ever: Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz, and Gunnar Henderson.”
A first-look gameplay trailer will debut on 4th February, with weekly updates to follow thereafter. Pre-orders will open on the same date.
Last year’s game, MLB The Show 24, caught some flak for changes it made to its popular team-building Diamond Dynasty mode.
The developer wanted to avoid the season-long power creep present in these modes by attaching cards to sets. This meant that it made 99-rated players available from day one, but you needed to unlock a new squad of players for each season.
The feedback was pretty poor, and San Diego Studio squashed the whole system late last year, promising it wouldn’t return for MLB The Show 25.
Back then, to ease fan frustrations, it also teased some of the features it was plotting for the new game:
- Road to the Show
- Deepen the player’s journey before being drafted, and return control to how a player develops and grows in new and interesting ways.
- Diamond Dynasty
- With Sets and Seasons retiring, our fans can look forward to all-new elements of the Diamond Dynasty experience blended with what they love most about it.
- Franchise
- Improved trade evaluation metrics are coming along with a new fun and engaging offseason experience.
- Gameplay
- With the expansion of quick time events, defensive AI, and pathing updates, enjoy more engaging moment-to-moment gameplay.
We’ll find out more about all of this next month.
[source blog.playstation.com]
Comments 16
The Show is developed by PlayStation but it's still a licensed product and when it released on xbox for the first time there were reports/rumos saying the MLB asked for the game to be released on gamepass.
The game sells a lot on xbox, not actually surprising given the popularity of baseball and xbox in the same territories in America so if the reports were true makes sense for Sony to push a new deal with the MLB about how to release the game on xbox. They were losing money there but that will stop with this entry.
That sucks it’ll not be on PS4 as I have no intention of buying a PS5, so that leaves the Switch which at least gives me a handheld option, which is great. I was gonna hold off on a Switch 2 but this might tip it. Just as well I have a major birthday coming up.
'There's no word yet on Switch 2'. Which doesn't really matter since there's a Switch version and Switch 2 will play Switch games... right?
I wonder if MLB not release day 1 on gamepass leads to Sony get more revenue from sales. I mean, Xbox owners who wants to play MLB now must buy the game instead of waiting on gamepass.
Long term it's probably pretty smart putting it on Game Pass for a couple of years. Give them a taste and then take the free candy away and make them pay for it. A tried and tested tactic employed for centuries by confectioners and peddlers of other highs.
@themightyant I think that's pretty much the endgame strategy for Xbox. When bespoke hardware is irrelevant in a generation or 2, there will be plenty of current PS5 gamers wanting to play the next COD, Gears or Forza and the only way they'll be able to do it is subscribing or buying directly from Microsoft.
@__jamiie Possibly. But I don't think game sales are going away any time soon. Personally I like Game Pass, but many don't. Choice is good.
@Marquez Well, you’d assume a version developed natively for Switch 2 would take more advantage of its hardware.
The lack of PS4 is an obvious move to get people who haven't upgraded to PS5 to do so. If the game can run on 2015 mobile tech (Switch) something tells me they could have gotten it up and running on PS4 had they wanted to...
Also, yay no GP. That was annoying, though I understand why they did it for a few years.
I still find it baffling that a game that's capable of running on the Switch doesn't get a (fairly easy to port) PS4 version.
That said, I don't get the fascination with virtual rounders either.
@get2sammyb This is true.
@get2sammyb Its safe to assume there will be Switch 2 updates for current switch games since it has near fully BC. Cant wait for the endless posts about which switch games get switch 2 updates. Tbh i cant wait for Pokemon SV switch 2 update assuming there will be one.
@themightyant I don't think game sales will go away either. I just think you'll buy your games via an Xbox or PlayStation store app to play on whatever piece of hardware you want. Whether that's a generic PC style box under your TV or elsewhere.
Honestly I’d like to hope that the Switch version is severely gimped, because this series has not advanced at all since the new generation. Please for the love of god just make basic improvements.
Unless they revamp the gameplay(and visuals), ill be skipping this year. Madden and NBA2k have really upped there game recently in those areas, but MLB still feels like a launch PS4 game. I love baseball and it isnt a bad game to so to say, but I cant see myself buying it if its like the last 2 seasons. Hopefully they come out with their A game this year.
@tangyzesty How as it annoying being on GP? It saved me money on what amounted to barely iterative releases. I loved the idea of it being on GP. Even if it hadnt benefited me(I own all platforms), Id be happy for those who did get to enjoy the game on GP.
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