I Want to Love MLB The Show Again
-
I feel the need to get this off my chest. If we don’t let our voices be heard, SDS is going to continue putting out subpar games.
I was reading the College Football 27 deep dive and one line jumped off the page: “Satisfy the Core Community” because “This is THEIR game.”
Man… if that didn’t hit home.
It feels like MLB The Show has been doing the exact opposite for years.
I’m not here to trash the dev team. Like all of us, I’m sure they’re doing the best they can with the resources they have. And to be fair, there have been some good additions. The scouting updates and Trade Hub were steps in the right direction.
But they feel half-finished.
As a Franchise player, it’s frustrating to watch so much time and energy go into features that don’t meaningfully move the game forward for the people who just want an immersive baseball simulation.
It’s 2026, and the graphics still feel stuck in the PS4 era. We have a fantastic Stadium Creator, but still can’t create expansion teams. There are established MLB players who still don’t have face scans. Managers aren’t even in the game. The coaches that do exist, the ratings feel random and have little personality or impact.
And that’s before getting into all the little things that have barely evolved over the last five to ten years.
I know this probably sounds like another fan complaining on the internet, but it comes from a place of disappointment more than anger.
Baseball is my favorite sport. MLB The Show used to be my favorite game.
Now it just feels like I’m buying the same game every year and hoping this is finally the version that gives Franchise mode—and the core baseball fan—the attention they deserve.
-
Over my life, I have found that the simple concepts are normally the most accurate and relevant.
Let's say you are among the most talented video game coders out there. What company would you rather work for?
Company A: Our mission is to challenge ourselves to make the very best video game experience that can be obtained within rational budget limits. We reward innovation and excellence.
Company B: Our mission is to maximize profits by retaining basic software code and making minor updates and focusing on marketing for post sale revenue streams.
OK, admittedly my comparison is simplistic. But, the point seems clear. Truly talented people want to work where they are allowed to maximize their talents, reach for excellence, be challenged to create their best, and at the end of the release, truly believe that they created something special, something that can legitimately be called the best in the industry.
Think of it this way. What kind of baseball player does a coach want -- the kind that is happy with middling results, or the player who busts his [but*] to prepare to win championships?
Bottom line: companies become who their leadership drives them to become.
-
Seriously? The word but* is censored! This is nuts folks! It turns words that can easily be spoken on broadcast television and warps them into some unknown where people have to guess at the word used. There is nothing vulgar about the word, "but*", and no one should have to put an asterisks in place to get it shown!
-
What is love?
Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me
No more..
