Konami released eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026 (Professional Baseball Spirits 2026 in Japan) in mid-July, and for the first time, it received a release in North America via PlayStation and PC. For those unaware, it is the official simulation game of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league in Japan. This year’s title, the first since Konami released the 2024-25 version in late 2024, can be described as a game that can both enlighten and frustrate, in some cases.
Here’s our review of eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026.
Graphics & Commentary
I suppose a good starting point is the graphics, which – at least on social media – garnered a significant amount of attention when compared to MLB The Show (I hate comparing eBaseball to it, and I’ll explain why in a bit. But for now, bear with me, as it makes it much easier to explain certain concepts).
Yes, the graphics for eBaseball Pro Spirit, which runs on the Unreal Engine, look objectively better. The attention to detail on many different features pales in comparison to The Show in several areas. One, the saturation is significantly better in quality. And that quality does extend in other areas, including the definition in the player models, as well as the surroundings in and around the field.
The dirt looks like dirt, not the clay-like definition in Sony’s baseball game. Baseballs will be engulfed in a white trail immediately after a pitcher hits the rosin bag. However, does that quality carry over into the gameplay?
Also, unlike Professional Baseball Spirits 2024-25, there are options for an all-English menu, as well as English commentary. Josh Lewin, who’s done work for FOX Sports, the Mets, Rangers, and Orioles, is the voice of eBaseball Pro Spirit on the English side. Much like past games, there is also Japanese commentary, obviously.
The coding for the commentary is buggy. For example, a changeup or splitter will be incorrectly identified as a breaking ball. The same was the case for some two-seamers. Aside from that, it’s passable.
Gameplay
This is where things get complicated. Depending on one’s likes, eBaseball Pro Spirit’s gameplay can be described in either two ways: a perfectly imperfect simulation, or a masochist’s mayhem.
Let’s start with the pitching. There are different interfaces for both hitting and pitching but the one that most will likely use is the pulse-like system. The goal for this is to time the shrink of the circle right into the white inner circle to command the ball.
Pitching, in this game, is where Konami shone the most. Curveballs, for instance, don’t stay true like in MLB The Show. Breaking balls have real, late movement that can make it difficult to pick up. Two-seam fastballs don’t have that wild, erratic break that sinkers have had in MLB The Show, ones where they behave a lot like changeups. Yes, you get accustomed to seeing that in The Show – but Konami did a good job with movement profiles.
That was true in 2024-25, and that remains true in 2026.
Hitting is where things begin to slide. There are two hitting interfaces: a Bat Cursor (think Zone/PCI hitting in The Show) and Zone Hitting (think Directional). While the PCI is king in The Show, the exact opposite is true in eBaseball Pro Spirit.
While the Bat Cursor does provide more of a challenge, Zone Hitting is far better, not just easier to handle. You can’t make contact on pitches outside of the strike zone with Zone Hitting. But on the other hand, timing is generally either good or perfect with it. And that makes a major difference.
eBaseball Pro Spirit has a high learning curve with respect to hitting. And for those who come from The Show, it’s even higher. The reason why is that, even on higher pitch speeds – yes, there are different settings for difficulty and pitch speed, a plus – I had to slow myself down and stay deep on nearly every pitch so many times to get the hang of it.
As someone who consistently plays on Hall of Fame & Legend in MLB The Show, the difference is real.
Even despite that, though, expect a lot of groundballs and pop flies.
Lastly, the running & fielding animations look more out of a mobile game than an actual console game. That was the case when Konami released Professional Baseball Spirits 2024-25.
Modes
One thing that Konami does get right is the depth of game modes to experiment in.
Season Mode is the Franchise Mode of eBaseball Pro Spirit, where individuals can take control of one of 12 NPB clubs. From there, scout, sign, and play in the quest for an NPB title. It’s a fairly linear game mode.
Star Player is the career mode, one where individuals can either create a custom player or take control of one of the many individuals on an NPB roster. From an American’s standpoint, this was one of the more entertaining aspects, simply because it’s possible to take control of some of the gaijins in Japan.
Many former Major Leaguers are in the game. Bobby Dalbec, Miguel Sano, Gregory Polanco, Forrest Whitley, Franmil Reyes, and a 38-year-old Masahiro Tanaka are among those in the game.
On an aside, the base game does include many Legends, albeit not as many as the 2024-25 version that included even gaijin legends like Randy Messenger, Brad Eldred, and Robert Rose. All three of the Team Japan WBC Championship team (2006, 2009, 2023 sans Roki Sasaki) are available to use.
Meaning, retired players like Kenji Johjima, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Akinori Iwamura, Kosuke Fukudome, Nori Aoki, Munenori Kawasaki, & Ichiro are in the game.
Unfortunately, Star Player, while it does have more depth in some areas – you can help develop teammates, or, even hilariously, experiment in the Japan dating scene – than Sony’s baseball games, it’s still exactly the same from 2024-25.
There’s also a UT-like mode called Grand Prix, albeit one that can be played in single-player. It’s a mode where one creates a manager, takes control of a base team, and tries to build it up into a winner.
And yes, there’s online play via the Live Championshop Mode.
The World Baseball Classic
Now, this portion only relates to those who purchased the Japanese and/or Asian copy of the game. Unlike MLB The Show 26, Konami had a dedicated 2026 World Baseball Classic Tournament mode in eBaseball Pro Spirit. While this mode is completely separate from the base game, it does offer a unique twist for a non-MLB video game.
The WBC Tournament is fully fleshed out. While it does have its nuances – much like in the base game, there is no pitch clock, while infielders will shift into the outfield, both of which were against the MLB rules set forth for the tourney – you can play an entire tournament from start to finish.
And yes, there are real MLB players. Meaning, Aaron Judge, Julio Rodriguez, Paul Skenes, and all the other players in the Majors who played for their respective countries are here. Now, there are some filler players on some teams. For example, Didi Gregorius is not available for the Netherlands. You get the idea.
For those wondering, the player models are what they are. Some look good. Some don’t. Some look based on other Asian-based models. Pitching animations, for the most part, are on point. Even many of the stances were fine. However, many swinging animations just don’t look right. Aaron Judge, for example, doesn’t have that clean, upright swing path. And that same sentiment holds true with others.
Again, for those who buy the Japanese version, take it for what it is.
Verdict
I can’t state that this game is a competitor to MLB The Show 26. An alternative would be a good way to describe it. However, even stating that is just off. Anyone who has an interest in the NPB will likely be more drawn to this, compared to someone who doesn’t. That is just a matter of fact.
As far as the gameplay is concerned, Konami did not take that necessary step forward. Fielding feels slow, just like it did in 2024-25. And the running animations look & feel arcade-ish.
But for those willing to bear the brunt and work with it, eBaseball Pro Spirit isn’t the worst game that one could play. Especially for those who want the World Baseball Classic.
Score: 6.5/10
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