Why I'm Not Buying MLB The Show 25 (Even Though I Could)
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You know what’s wild? People are defending the decision to remove access from PC players instead of asking the real question: why isn’t this game available to as many people as possible—especially when they’re still using a legacy engine?
For context: I literally got Game Pass last year just to play MLB The Show 24. That was the whole reason. And now? Not only is it not on Game Pass, but I can’t even play it via xCloud. There is now zero way for me to access the game I came to the platform for unless I buy a console or a full-price copy elsewhere.
Look, I own a Switch. But I refuse to give them my money (again). I already have MLB The Show 23, and guess what? It’s the same game as 24. And 22. And 21. Why would I pay $60 for a watered-down, 30 FPS version running on a mobile chip with 4GB of RAM? Supporting that just tells the suits, “Yeah, I’m cool with being milked for less.”
I’m not.
I could easily afford a console or upgrade my PC if the game actually pushed modern hardware. But that’s not the issue. This isn’t about performance—it’s about control.
They removed the PC version to funnel players into locked-down ecosystems, where:
You pay monthly subscriptions just to access online play.
You grind for stubs in a pay-to-win economy.
You jump through hoops—and still don’t even own what you bought.
Meanwhile, on PC:
I don’t need a subscription to play online.
I can run games at 1080p, 144 FPS on a five-year-old GPU that outperforms the Series S.
When I buy a game, it’s mine—no expiration, no Game Pass rotations, no nonsense.
And let’s be honest—I could still play most of these games on my original Xbox One or even the Switch. So no, it’s not about “what the game requires.” It’s about what the publishers want to milk.
I’m not here to shame anyone playing on console or Switch. If that works for you, cool. But don’t pretend this was about technical limitations. It was a business move—plain and simple—at the expense of consumer choice.
So no—I’m not giving them $60 just to say, “Yeah, this is fine.” Because it’s not. And the more we let them get away with it, the more they’ll take from us—all in the name of “Stub Farming.”
Honestly? Natural selection would’ve wiped out a game like this years ago for offline players like me. I still go back to MLB The Show ‘08 because it had more meaningful front office management than this new “Big Board” gimmick ever will.
And now I’m being told that it’s worth another $60 just because Juan Soto moved from the Yankees to the Mets? I could’ve done that roster update myself.
And on the Switch? They’d all look like blobs anyway.
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Companies aren’t obligated to create and sell a product that you’d like, just because you’d like them to. Buy a console that you can play it on or move on. They’re well-aware of the change that they chose to make. They don’t need diatribes posted on their forums about it. These forums are for people actually playing the game. No one needs this. This is entirely a you-problem, not theirs or ours.
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@RealPudgyPanda_MLBTS “This is entirely a you-problem.” No—this is a player-base problem, and I’m not alone.
The whole point of feedback—especially in forums like this—is to express frustration when a game moves backward. I’m not asking for them to create something brand new just because I want it. I’m pointing out that they removed something that already existed, and for no justifiable technical reason.
I’ve been playing The Show since I was a kid. I was happy to support it year after year when it meant something—when it felt like they respected all corners of the player base. But now? I’m being told that the game can’t run on Xbox One or PS4 anymore, while somehow still shipping a 30 FPS version on Switch—a system with less RAM than most phones. That's not progress. That’s posturing.
And yes—I own a console I could play it on. But removing a quality way to access the game, especially via xCloud or PC, and replacing it with inferior options while acting like they’re “upgrading” the experience? That’s not innovation. It’s just forcing people into locked ecosystems.
If we don’t speak up about stuff like this, they’ll keep cutting corners while charging the same—or more. So no, this isn’t just a "me" problem. It’s a sign of a growing issue in how games are handled and who gets to play them.
And frankly, this is exactly what forums are for—to talk about how the game affects all players, not just the ones currently playing it on next-gen hardware.
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Another thread? If this series makes you so miserable I think it’s time to move on and find something else that makes you happy.
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@DodgerMatt93_NSW truly
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@DodgerMatt93_NSW Also, no, it was a response thread because I posted and figured no one would respond and came back 3 days later to like 30 comments. I figured I'd make a succinct post, also noting that there is a way to buy this game, for 60$, to play it in the exact same way that they said would be damaging to their brand if they kept putting it on last gen.
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Thanks for letting us know
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@grenachi_MLBTS Anytime, every day
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Some people seem confused—so let me set the record straight.
Yes, I’ve posted more than once. And no, it’s not because I “can’t” play the game. It’s because I refuse to support what it’s become.
Maybe in an earlier post I sounded facetious, like I didn’t have a way to play. Truth is, I don’t have a Series S or PS5—but I could go out and buy one. I just won’t. Because why should I spend $500 on a console just to spend $60 more on a game that continues to ignore its core audience?
And then what—drop even more money on stubs just to stay competitive in Diamond Dynasty? That’s not baseball. That’s a slot machine wearing a baseball cap.
Meanwhile, Franchise and Road to the Show—modes that used to define the series—have seen minimal innovation year after year. They slap on a new interface, shuffle the UI, and expect us to act like it’s some game-changing overhaul. But under the hood? Same systems. Same neglect.
I have a capable PC that outperforms the Series S. And yet, they pulled the PC version. They killed xCloud support. But they’re still shipping a version for Switch that runs at 30 FPS on a mobile chip with 4GB of RAM. So don’t tell me this is about performance.
This is about control and monetization—not delivering a better experience.
So no—I’m not paying $560+ to prove I’m still a loyal fan. I was happy to spend my money when it meant something. But when you start treating players like wallets instead of people, don’t be surprised when we walk away.
If you’re cool with that? Good for you. But I’m done pretending it’s fine.
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@Chezco_MLBTS said in Why I'm Not Buying MLB The Show 25 (Even Though I Could):
You know what’s wild?
The fact that you wrote a novel explaining why you're not buying the game even though no one asked?
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It was on PC? You mean gamepass right?
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@Chezco_MLBTS I agree completely! wish I could get a refund!!!!!!!! This is the same game as last year with lame “ambush hitting”
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Imagine taking the time to use the same tired joke everyone else does. Pretty baby stuff there. Imagine being a grown man defending a video game franchise but also checking the forums and clicking on a post with a very clear title just to say you didn't ask? No one asks for anything in a forum. That's why it's a forum.
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@Doppelganger39_PSN yes xcloud
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@Chezco_MLBTS said in Why I'm Not Buying MLB The Show 25 (Even Though I Could):
Imagine taking the time to use the same tired joke everyone else does. Pretty baby stuff there. Imagine being a grown man defending a video game franchise but also checking the forums and clicking on a post with a very clear title just to say you didn't ask? No one asks for anything in a forum. That's why it's a forum.
I searched high and low throughout the forums looking for this joke.
Only one I found was you.
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If PC players had a better reputation and not known for being no good cheaters I am sure SDS would have left that door open. But the damage was already done.
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Even if it's literally the same exact game, with updated rosters, $60 is a good deal to pay every year. You seen the price of eggs?!
Seriously though. You could spend the same amount on a dinner out, and the only thing you'll have the next day is the runs. In terms of price per minute. you really can't beat it. Besides, you're clearly wasting mental energy thinking about a game you're actively not playing... just go play it.
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@TubaTim90_PSN . Went out to dinner last night for my parents anniversary and quickly realized why we don't go out to dinner anymore. Could've been playing instead of sitting there waiting for cold food to come ( was supposed to be hot but obviously not)
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Good for you, I’ve been playing on my PS5 and this is the best year yet.
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@Easy_Duhz_It__PSN The fact that you don't think that it's a joke to spend your time trying to roast someone for a single heart on a forum page You're literally doing this so that one person will support what you're saying. At the end of the day this game is released has made it very easy to decide that this year I'm going to play baseball outside instead of inside
