Though the MLB may be in an ongoing lockout, the latest entry in its beloved video game counterpart franchise – MLB The Show 22 – is well on its way, and Sony Interactive is currently releasing a host of information on what features to expect from the new game. With new information coming every day and more announcements expected leading up to the game’s release, fans are optimistic to see what gameplay features, performance enhancements, and new ways to play the developers will bring to this year’s iteration.
The MLB: The Show franchise has released a new game annually – originally as a PlayStation exclusive series – since 2006. Last year’s entry saw MLB: The Show was released on Xbox consoles – thanks to an unprecedented deal brokered between the MLBPA and Sony Interactive – in the series’ first-ever multi-platform debut. This year, the game is also coming to the Nintendo Switch, which now marks the series’ first appearance on a Nintendo console. Cross-platform online play between all consoles will be available to players, as well as cross-saving and cross-progression between consoles by creating an MLB: The Show account.
As detailed on the official MLB The Show website, across all consoles, MLB The Show 22 will feature the return of the Road to the Show mode for players to create and play multiple custom characters in the franchise’s signature baseball RPG experience. The new game brings two new gameplay styles and difficulty settings as well, which should go some way to catering for multiple kinds of players. The latest game will also feature an expanded and fan-favorite version of MLB The Show‘s Diamond Dynasty mode, a wider roster of Legends, and even more customization options.
Owners of the latest generation consoles – PS5, Xbox Series X/Series S – will see additional gameplay enhancements in MLB: The Show 22 exclusive to those consoles. PlayStation users will get to experience the game with Tempest 3D AudioTech and the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback for the most immersive baseball experience to date. For Xbox owners, the game will be available to Game Pass subscribers at launch for no additional cost. The next-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles will be able to play the game in dynamic 4K resolution and 60fps as well, and see the return of the Stadium Creator from MLB The Show 21 but exclusively for those latest generation consoles. The Stadium Creator, which will now feature a more streamlined user interface and the new ability to play night games in custom stadiums, will not be available to previous generation console owners – PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch included.
In another major landmark for the series, the MLB: The Show 22 just made history by announcing Shohei Ohtani as this year’s cover athlete. Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League’s 2021 MVP and is now the first Asian athlete to be featured on a game’s cover art for any of the four major sports in the United States. The game’s recently announced collector’s editions – the MVP Edition and the Digital Deluxe Edition – feature manga-style MLB The Show cover art from acclaimed illustrator Takashi Okazaki (Afro Samurai, Batman Ninja), include early access to the game and exclusive in-game content, and the MVP Edition includes a physical steelbook as well.
Sony Interactive has promised that several Feature Premieres will be released on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Live leading up to the game’s release date as well. These upcoming gameplay deep dives will give players an even closer look at what’s new to the series this year. MLB: The Show 22 launches for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Switch on April 5, 2022.
Source: MLB The Show
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Author: Ryan Stiffelman
