MLB The Show 24 vs. MLB The Show 25

Sony’s MLB The Show franchise has come a long way since its debut in 1997, evolving into one of the most beloved baseball video game series of all time. While some installments have been bigger hits than others, the franchise has consistently pushed forward, refining gameplay, visuals, and features with each new release.

MLB The Show 24 introduced several groundbreaking additions, including the game’s first female player, immersive new Storylines, and the innovative Emergent Narratives feature, which brought a fresh layer of depth to the experience.

Now, with 2025 here, anticipation is building for MLB The Show 25, set to launch in mid-March. Sony promises even more enhancements, and based on what we know so far, this year’s installment is shaping up to be a step forward for the series. Here’s a closer look at how MLB The Show 25 compares to its predecessor, highlighting both the familiar elements and exciting new improvements.

What is MLB The Show 24?

MLB The Show 24 is the 19th installment in the game series. The series releases one installment every year, each trying to be better or different in specific ways. The 2024 installment came with certain notable improvements and new features compared to MLB The Show 23 and other previous installments. It featured at least two new stadiums, new base sizes, and an overhauled menu navigation. It also featured over 400 new animations for pitching and better pitching and throwing gameplay mechanics. Most notably, it introduced women players and ten new player storylines for the Negro Leagues.

What is MLB The Show 25?

MLB The Show 25 will be the series’ 20th installment, scheduled to launch on March 18. While every game promises to be better than the last, San Diego Studio promises that this installment will be considerably better. Interestingly, the developers are so confident in the game’s reception that they decided not to release it on Game Pass on the launch date. This decision is telling, considering that most of the previous games were released on Game Pass on day one.

Story

MLB The Show games don’t have rigid storylines like simulation sports games. The idea is for players to create their own stories based on their activities and achievements. MLB The Show 25 even lets players tell their stories from their early high school and college playing years. It is also worth noting that both games feature the Storylines mode, which tells the stories of some of the sport’s best players.

Character

MLB The Show games regularly incorporate new, popular baseball players as characters. Notably, MLB The Show 24 was the first installment to introduce female players to the series. It features the sport’s first-ever female player, Toni Stone. Other notable players include Mookie Betts, Aaron Judge, Corey Seager, and Mike Trout.

MLB The Show 25 features several new notable players. The most notable is Cool Papa Bell, who was designated as the world’s fastest baseball player. Bell is also popular for winning two Negro Leagues World Series Championships. Other notable new players include Roger Clemens, who was designated as the best pitcher of all time, and Manny Ramirez, who ranks among the best hitters. Moreover, players can access all other players available in previous MLB The Show games.

Gameplay

MLB The Show 25 promises more new and improved features than usual. Most notably, the game features a first-person camera mode, making the gameplay more immersive. However, it is also worth noting that a first-person POV may also restrict players’ view of everything happening on the field. Not all fielding supports first-person, and players can easily toggle between first-person and third-person. This is a significant change in the gameplay design, and it could become a permanent feature in future installments.

The Amateur Years is another notable new feature in MLB The Show 25. It adds high school and college baseball leagues, giving players a more complete experience. Players play two to three high school baseball games before college and three to four games in college before advancing to the MLB. The game’s trailer showcases several high-profile colleges, including Texas, UCLA, and TCU.

MLB The Show 25 also brings back the popular Storylines mode with the Negro Leagues Season 3. The players’ stories are narrated by Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro League Hall of Fame. This installment’s story mode promises to tell stories of “some of the greatest players that gamers have likely never heard of.”

The Franchise mode also gets an overhaul in MLB The Show 25. Drafting, player development, and money management are essential in professional baseball. The new Franchise mode reflects that better with improvements to the Defensive WAR and Trade Logic. Notably, it introduces a new risk/reward strategy for recruiting new players. The developer’s new Franchise mode description says, “Choices matter, consequences are real, and time is precious.” It is also worth noting that the game introduces a new, more challenging G.O.A.T. difficulty setting.

The new game is also removing seasons and sets for Diamond Dynasty. The feature now has two modes: Weekend Classic and Diamond Quest. Diamond Quest is a new, offline roguelike mode that rewards players for completing challenges, setting memorable moments, boss encounters, and more. In contrast, Weekend Classic is a highly competitive online multiplayer mode.

Besides these changes and improvements, MLB The Show 25 also features a revamped gameplay design. It introduces hundreds of new animations to make the experience look and feel more realistic. Notably, most of the animations focus on defensive plays like diving catches and robbing home runs. Moreover, the new installment introduces ambush hitting, enabling players to form more elaborate plans of attack from the plate.

MLB The Show 25 will also stand out from previous installments regarding visuals. The developers promise better graphics and sharper visuals for a more immersive, appealing gameplay experience. The audio is also on point and even features authentic sound effects for metal bats when playing college games.

Verdict