Traditionally, we’ve had to wait until the calendar switch to get more information on the upcoming MLB The Show game. But for MLB The Show 26, that hasn’t been the case. On December 9, Sony and the game’s development team went over some of the new additions for the new game. Among them include attribute changes, new Franchise Mode logic, and new universities in Road to the Show (RTTS).
Attribute and PCI changes
Sony went over some of the various gameplay & attribute changes coming to MLB The Show 26.
On defense, the developers have added new catch animations to “make plays on balls using true-to-life physics across all surface types and walls.” There will also be new cutoff throws for corner infielders and catches on the run that will allow fielders to cover bases with more realism.
As for attributes, Reaction ratings will now be split into four directional attributes instead of one. For catchers, pop time will get its own attribute. Additionally, there will be knee-down sets for catchers, mirroring a trend behind the plate in baseball.
The PCI, meanwhile, will get some settings changes. A new PCI Sensitivity setting will scale how fast or slow the coverage indicator moves on the screen. There will also be an Anchor Mirror, which will affect whether the PCI always stays where it was previously set.
Lastly, the developers hinted that ABS and PitchCom will be implemented.
Franchise Mode logic changes
The development team didn’t go into too much detail about the revamped “Front Office Experience” that will be implemented in MLB The Show 26. However, one highlighted feature is how lineup logic will change moving forward.
For 26, SDS stated that it has incorporated analytical trends to ensure that in-game lineup construction matches up with real-life. Meaning, high OBP players will be in the leadoff spot, while a team’s best hitter will likely be in the #2 spot.
Sony illustrated this through new screenshots (ratings not final, per SDS). In this screenshot from 25, the Yankees had Jose Caballero — a fast runner — and Jasson Dominguez batting ahead of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
For 26, the in-progress screenshot showed Trent Grisham in the leadoff spot with Aaron Judge behind him.
Another takeaway from the screenshots — which was not written in the dive — is that the new build has left-handed and right-handed hitters split up. In 25, there was a massive stack of left-handed hitters.
More colleges will be added to RTTS
Sony stated that 11 new universities will be added for MLB The Show 26, joining TCU, Tennessee, Texas, and LSU, and the others that were added in 25.
SDS confirmed that the University of North Carolina (ACC) and Oregon State (Independent, Pac-12) will be in next year’s game.
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