A new year means a new MLB The Show video game. Sony San Diego (SDS) released first info on MLB The Show 25 in November 2024, a little earlier than usual. In that first news dump, the developers gave baseball fans a first glimpse of what’s to come in The Show 25, includign a major change — or reversion, to be more precise — to Diamond Dynasty.
When will MLB The Show 25 be released?
On January 28, Sony San Diego confirmed two release dates for MLB The Show 25. The Digital Deluxe Edition, as the name implies, will be available on digital console marketplaces and released on March 14, 2025. There is no physical Collector’s Edition available for ’25.
The standard edition, on the other hand, will be released on March 18, 2025.
For those wondering, the latter date coincides with the 2025 MLB regular season start, which also takes place on March 18, in Tokyo, Japan.
Who is on the cover?
Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz, and Gunnar Henderson are on the cover of MLB The Show 25.
What consoles will it be available on?
MLB The Show 25 will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and the Nintendo Switch.
The game will not be available on Xbox One or PlayStation 4, considered the old-generation of gaming consoles.
Is it on Xbox Game Pass?
No, MLB The Show 25 will not be on Xbox Game Pass.
Unlike previous installments from MLB The Show 21-24, SDS confirmed it will not be on any subscription service.
Previously, baseball fans could get a Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to get a wide catalog of games, plus access to MLB The Show 24 immediately after its release. This allowed for those individuals to play the game without buying it.
Gameplay trailer
On February 4, the first gameplay trailer was released:
Are Sets in MLB The Show 25?
In late November 2024, Sony confirmed the first details for MLB The Show 25. and among the first bits of information confirmed was that Sets/Seasons would not be returning to Diamond Dynasty. Rather, players can used obtained cards freely throughout the lifecycle.
This is a departure from what SDS did in 23 and 24. Before MLB The Show 23, Diamond Dynasty content operated via a power creep model, meaning top-tier cards in the early game would be cycled out by better, higher-overall cards, throughout the year.
Only a handful of 99 OVR cards were made available at launch under that model.
But in MLB The Show 23 and 24, cards were cycled out by Sets/Seasons. Whenever a season ended, the pool of available cards did, as well. Meaning, not all previously-unlocked cards could be used at any point.
Announced additions
Sony confirmed in November that Road to the Show would receive an overhaul. For MLB The Show 25, the mode will “return control” to how players develop, as well as introduce a deeper backstory before the MLB Draft.
On February 4, SDS gave us some new details. High school and college will be added to Road to the Show. Additionally, more customization will be added to give players more ability to control their avatar’s specific build.
Other notable information dropped in early February included new advertised animations, a boardgame for Diamond Dynasty and competitive Weekend Classic events, and new meters for throwing & home run robs.
Additionally, two new legends — Roger Clemens and Manny Ramirez — were among the announcements on the 4th.
The developers stated that Franchise Mode will have improved trade logic, while defensive AI improvements are among the gameplay changes touted to this point.
Pre-release schedule
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