A recent video showing off new features in MLB The Show 25 proved that it will continue one of my favorite trends in sports games in recent years. Although playing the actual sport has remained a major focus for most sports games, management elements have slowly become a larger part of them. This adds a fun new dynamic to games and helps keep them fresh.
Perhaps the worst quality of sports games is their annual release schedule. I enjoyed Madden 25 well enough, but its basic gameplay mechanics aren’t all that different from earlier versions. However, innovations in the management side of things are helping keep sports games fresh. For example, College ’s Dynasty Mode was possibly the best feature. I’m glad to see MLB The Show 25 is following suit.
MLB The Show's Franchise Mode Is Beefing Up Its Management Mechanics
MLB The Show’s New Franchise Features Make Free Agency More Realistic
A recent video from Sony San Diego showed off some of the new features for Franchise mode. This includes a new free agency system where you can offer contract deals to promising talent. However, players aren’t forced to accept your contract, causing you to work out what a fair deal is. The added risk that you might offend a player with a low offer creates a more engaging experience than simply choosing what players you want to pick up.
MLB The Show 25: Road To The Show's New Progression Explained
MLB The Show 25 comes with several new changes. One new change is how the progression in RTTS works. Find out what has changed and how it works here.
A major focus seems to be on creating a more realistic experience, from contending with competing offers to arbitration to settle contract disputes. I think fleshing out the Franchise mode in MLB The Show 25 and adding more realistic gameplay elements goes a long way toward making sports titles feel worth the annual price of ission. I’m happy to see MLB The Show 25 and other titles trying to offer more features to make these games worth buying.
Sports Games Leaning More Into Management Simulation Improves The Experience
Sports Games Are Essentially Becoming Multiple Games In One
I stopped playing typical sports games for a while because I felt like continuing to buy them was a waste of money. However, while I was burned out on major titles, games like the sadly canceled Football Manager or F1 Manager piqued my interest. These games were not only good excuses to dive deeper into aspects of sports I didn’t know much about, but they also catered to my interest in strategy games.
When Does MLB The Show 25 Early Access Begin?
Early Access for MLB The Show 25 will let certain players get into the game four days ahead of time, but only if they meet the right requirements.
As major sports titles like Madden and MLB The Show started emphasizing these types of game modes more, they started to win me back. It was essentially like getting two games in one: I got my strategic management simulator and a fun sports game I could play more casually with friends. If games like MLB The Show 25 continue to beef up their strategy and role-playing aspects, they will be more worthy of their frequent releases.
Source: Sony San Diego/YouTube
MLB The Show 25
- Released
- March 18, 2025
- Developer(s)
- San Diego Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Franchise
- MLB The Show
MLB The Show 25 elevates the baseball gaming experience with notable enhancements. The introduction of "Ambush Hitting" adds strategic depth to batting, rewarding players for accurately predicting pitch locations. Defensive gameplay sees significant improvements, with new animations and reaction indicators that highlight fielders' skills, making defense more impactful. The "Road to the Show" mode now includes high school and college games, offering a richer career progression.
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