Every Feature Confirmed for MLB The Show 26 So Far

MLB The Show 26 is on the horizon, as the game has been confirmed for a March 17 launch. Beyond that, though, the next entry in the baseball franchise also has a variety of brand-new and returning features for players to look forward to. MLB The Show 26 has a lot to offer this time around. From game modes to upgraded gameplay, baseball fans have a lot to celebrate with MLB The Show 26.

The cover star was recently announced, confirming that Aaron Judge will be put in the spotlight for the second time in the franchise’s history. Judge was also the cover star back in 2018, making him only the second player to be chosen as the MLB The Show cover star twice. He’s far from the only baseball star to be featured, though. MLB The Show‘s player roster evolves from game to game, and this year brings far more than baseball superstars to the table.

MLB The Show 26 Makes Major Gameplay and Quality of Life Upgrades

All New ABS System
New rule allowing the catcher, batter, or pitcher to challenge the home plate umpire’s ball and strike calls
Real MLB Pitch Usage Rates
New Bear Down Pitching
New Big Zone Hitting
New Defensive Attributes
New Fielding Animations
Diamond Dynasty upgrades
Adding 11 newcollege team
Three New Stadiums

When it comes to MLB The Show 26‘s core gameplay, there are going to be upgrades felt across the board. From new rules to improved systems, like ABS, pitching, and hitting, the goal is for MLB The Show 26 to feel like one of the most realistic baseball games to date. Although its predecessor didn’t exactly bring anything new to the table, MLB The Show 25‘s gameplay was incredibly solid. If MLB The Show 26 takes the best qualities of the last game and combines it with these tweaks, it could prove to be an even stronger overall game.

Fit the 9 games into the grid.

New Fielding Animations Bring More Personality to the Diamond

One of the most exciting upgrades isn’t necessarily gameplay. Developer San Diego Studio is teasing hundreds of new fielding animations that aim to breathe more life into the game. According to the details released by the developer, players can look forward to a whopping 500 new animations. It’s still hard to know just how MLB The Show 26 compares to MLB The Show 25, but the extra effort being put into animations hints at a more immersive experience. Each player will have even more personality, adding to the realism.

Image via Sony

Three New Stadiums Bring Players Even More Match Options

The Tokyo Dome
Estadio Hiram Bithorn
Terrapin Park

MLB The Show 26 also expands its stadium lineup. Over the years, the MLB The Show franchise has found ways to make each new entry exciting, and this trio of stadiums is a promising addition. The Tokyo Dome is one of the coolest indoor baseball stadiums in the world, and Estadio Hiram Bithorn is one of the most historic stadiums in Puerto Rico. Speaking of history, Terrapin Park helps honor an iconic piece of American baseball’s past. It’s a trifecta of stadiums that are important to baseball history for a variety of different reasons, so it will be thrilling to see what playing a match in each one feels like.

MLB The Show 26 Brings Back One of Its Best Modes, While Xbox Game Pass and the Switch 2 Get the Short End of the Bat

MLB The Show‘s Storylines: Negro Leagues mode returns with Season 4. This mode first debuted in MLB The Show 23, and it’s continued to be a fixture for the series. The mode puts some of baseball’s most important, but often forgotten, names front and center. It’s no surprise that it’s returning, but it’s still incredibly exciting. Deeper details about Season 4 are still being kept under wraps, but a few things have at least been confirmed.

New players
New uniforms
New stadium
New stories

Bad News For Xbox Game Pass and Nintendo Switch 2

Xbox Game Pass users who were hoping to see MLB The Show 26 come back to the platform have some bad news. Last year, MLB The Show 25 skipping Xbox Game Pass marked the first time since 2021 that the franchise didn’t launch on the subscription service. This disappointed a lot of fans, and Sony seems to be ignoring Xbox Game Pass once again. There also won’t be an official Nintendo Switch 2 version for MLB The Show 26 at launch. On the bright side, MLB The Show 25 still runs totally fine on the new Nintendo console, despite also not having an official port. So, MLB The Show 26 will still be playable on the console. It just won’t be as optimized as it could be.

Fans Can Choose Between Two Versions of MLB The Show 26

As is tradition with not only sports games, but most AAA games in general, there are multiple editions to pick from. For MLB The Show 26, fans can pick between the Standard Edition and the Digital Deluxe Edition. MLB The Show 26‘s release date may be officially March 17, but some pre-orders will also offer an early access perk.

Standard Edition

$69.99 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
$59.99 for the Nintendo Switch
Playable on March 17

Digital Deluxe Edition

$99.99
Early access on March 13

Those who pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition will also get 10% off if they have ordered any digital version of MLB The Show since 2021.

So, those who are even more eager to check out MLB The Show 26‘s new features will be able to play four days early if they pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition. Regardless of which edition one chooses, the game itself is teasing some exciting things to look forward to. The gameplay upgrades are promising, while brand-new stadiums and a fresh Storylines: Negro Leagues chapter showcases some of the most impactful stadiums and players in baseball history. The wait for MLB The Show 26 is only one more month, and it will be fascinating to see if these changes will mark a new era for the franchise.