As has become tradition here at Operation Sports, it’s time for an all-encompassing hub based completely around the upcoming MLB The Show 25. Here, we’ll cover the game’s release date, game modes, and everything in between.
As of the writing of this article, we are still about a week removed from MLB The Show 25‘s early access period, exclusive to those who decide to pre-order the game. Once the early access period begins, expect there to be an impressions thread for OS users on the forums.
MLB The Show 25 Editions And Platforms
In an intriguing new development, Sony has decided to leave out the old-gen consoles with the release of MLB The Show 25. Instead, it is a “current gen” exclusive and will be releasing on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch on March 18, 2025. Due to its inclusion on the Switch, don’t expect much in the way of graphical improvements. However, it’s extremely likely that this will be the last MLB The Show release to support the convertible gaming platform with the Nintendo Switch 2 scheduled for release before the end of the calendar year.
There will be three editions of MLB The Show 25, all with various perks and inclusions. Below is a comprehensive list of them:
MLB The Show 25 Standard Edition ($69.99/$59.99 On Switch)
- Base Game
- 5 The Show Packs for the Diamond Dynasty mode (preorder bonus)
MLB The Show 25 Limited Edition (Physical Copy) ($69.99/$59.99 On Switch)
- Base Game
- 5 The Show Packs for the Diamond Dynasty mode (preorder bonus)
- Exclusive MLB The Show Topps Trading Card (featuring one of the three cover athletes: Paul Skenes, Gunnar Henderson, Elly De La Cruz)
- Trading Cards are only available while supplies last, so they are essentially a preorder bonus
MLB The Show 25 Digital Deluxe Edition ($99.99)
- Base Game
- 5 The Show Packs for the Diamond Dynasty mode
- 4 days of early access
- Double daily rewards
- 20 Show Packs
- 1 20th Anniversary Choice Pack
- 1 Diamond Choice Pack
- 5 Gold Choice Packs
- 20K Stubs
- 1 Equipment Pack
- 1 Cover Athlete Bat Skin
Frequently Asked Question
Obviously, prospective MLB The Show 25 players might have a plethora of questions that might not be answered directly through the game’s marketing. Therefore, developer San Diego Studio has provided a FAQ on its official website that might answer any lingering questions you might have about the product.
Here are some of the takeways:
No Collector’s Edition For MLB The Show 25
Unfortunately for those who have enjoyed them in the past, there will not be a physical collector’s edition for MLB The Show 25. Instead, physical copies of the game will only come with the Limited Edition of the title. Information of that edition can be found above.
Early Access
The standard edition of MLB The Show 25 will be available on March 18, 2025. This means that purchasing the Digital Deluxe edition will grant players early access to the game beginning on March 14.
No Pre-Launch Test For Second Year In A Row
Like its predecessor, MLB The Show 25 will not have a pre-launch test which is sure to upset fans who might’ve been hoping for its return this year.
MLB The Show 25 Trophies And Achievements
As of right now, the achievements and trophies for MLB The Show 25 have not been released. Once early access is out, we’ll have a list of them for you.
Negro Leagues Returns For Season 3
In both MLB The Show 23 and 24, the Negro Leagues Storylines were one of the central features each year. Covering the history of the Negro Leagues’ best players — both known and obscure — these Storylines will be returning in MLB The Show 25. However, not much is known about it.
The only Negro Leagues star that has been shown extensively in any of the game’s marketing material is James “Cool Papa” Bell, implying we will get some sort of storyline based on his career. However, that’s pretty much the extent of it. And there’s nothing on MLB The Show 25‘s roadmap to suggest we’ll be getting any more details about it before release.
Road To The Show Has Some Changes
After years of stagnation, it looks like SDS has put in at least some effort into making Road to the Show a more fun and engaging experience. The biggest news on this front is the inclusion of both high school and college teams that RttS players can develop at before entering the MLB Draft.
The eight colleges that will be included in Road to the Show mode are as follows:
- Tennessee Volunteers
- LSU Tigers
- UCLA Bruins
- Texas Longhorns
- TCU Horned Frogs
- Cal State Fullerton Titans
- Vanderbilt Commodores
- South Carolina Gamecocks
Each college will provide a different developmental package for your player should you choose to not be drafted straight out of high school and commit to a university. Going through college seems to be the only way for you to earn a No. 1 draft pick as well.
Outside of the exciting inclusion of college ball, Road to the Show mode in MLB The Show 25 will give players more control over their character’s progression. Unlike past iterations that have kind of limited players for the sake of “realism,” this year’s Road to the Show promises to allow ultimate control over progression through upgrade tokens without a cap on anything.
SDS has also advertised a better quicktime event (QTE) system. This year will also mark the debut of the first-person camera, which could provide more of a challenge when fielding if that’s what you’re into. Personally, it feels like a gimmick that will get old after a few tries. But everyone’s different, so maybe this mode will be a hit.
Franchise Mode Has Promised Improvements
An OS favorite, Franchise mode in MLB The Show 25 has been advertised as having several improvements. But players are certainly divided on how game-changing these changes will actually be.
Keeping in line with how this MLB offseason played out in real life, MLB The Show 25‘s Franchise mode seems centered on the hot stove and free agency. As desired by our very own Kyler Murray, it’s been promised that big market teams will set the tone for free agency in each offseason and have the most negotiating power. But other new features — such as Motivation — promise to throw a spanner in the works for any aspiring virtual GM. In practice, it’s supposed to provide a “high risk, high reward” type of system.
Logic as it pertains to free agency and trades have also received touch-ups, according to SDS. However, three-team trades seem to still be something that aren’t present yet again.
There are other issues that have presented themselves too. As OS user DrPhibes pointed out, in SDS’s video breakdown of Franchise mode, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is requesting a 7-year contract for $29 million. Needless to say, that is preposterous. Vlad Jr. is a player heading into his prime years that will very well be setting the market during the next free agency period, and a player of his caliber asking for $4.14 million a year is absolutely ridiculous. Especially in the aftermath of players like Juan Soto landing record deals and even players like Pete Alonso being paid Cadillac prices for Toyota-like production.
We’ll have to see how it plays out, but many Franchise mode players are skeptical. And rightfully so.
Diamond Dynasty Gets The Biggest Upgrade
As expected, it seems most of SDS’s resources have gone into improving its Diamond Dynasty mode. One shouldn’t be surprised by this as it’s the game’s cash cow mode. And to be completely fair, it isn’t nearly as egregious or predatory as most of its competitors. Regardless, dedicated Diamond Dynasty players have plenty to be excited about come the release of MLB The Show 25.
At long last, Sets and Seasons are a thing of the past. Instead, players will have a yearlong progression system that allows them to use whatever cards they unlock whenever they want to use them. As a big Diamond Dynasty player myself, this change is good enough for me as Sets and Seasons made the game feel way less fun than it would’ve been had I been allowed to use the Team Affinity card I spent weeks grinding for whenever I wanted as opposed to just a week before season’s end.
Speaking of Team Affinity, that has been given a facelift as well. As opposed to past years where TA has been focused on divisions, this year will see each team get one progression tree that will be updated with high-value rewards for that team.
A new mode called Diamond Quest also makes its DD debut this year. Advertised as a rogue-like mode, Diamond Quest seems similar to Conquest in that it’s a virtual board game where taking over said board is the ultimate objective. En route to dominating your CPU-controlled opponent, players will encounter Boss battles, moments, three-inning games, and hidden rewards such as packs.
The biggest addition to Diamond Dynasty is Weekend Classic mode. Structured similar to Champions mode in EA FC, Weekend Classic will take place over a four-day period at the end of each ranked season cycle. Here, players will compete for the best rewards in the game in an ultra-competitive setting.
Other features such as an integrated Program that fuses every multiplayer mode together, new themed Programs, and a unique presentation package for every multiplayer mode.
