MLB: The Show

MLB: The Show is a Major League Baseball video game series created and produced by San Diego Studio, a development team that is part of PlayStation Studios. The series has received critical and commercial acclaim,[1][2][3][4] and since 2014 has been the sole MLB baseball simulation video game on the market for consoles.[5]

MLB: The Show
MLB: The Show current logo
Genre(s)Sports
Developer(s)San Diego Studio
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
First release(989 Sports version MLB '98) (San Diego Studio version MLB 06: The Show)
June 30, 1997, February 28, 2006
Latest releaseMLB The Show 24
March 19, 2024

The series debuted in 2006 with MLB 06: The Show for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, following the MLB series from 989 Sports. There has been a new release in the series every year since 2006.

The series was released on PlayStation 2 from 2006's MLB 06: The Show through 2011's MLB 11: The Show and was available on the PlayStation 3 from MLB 07: The Show through MLB The Show 16. Portable versions of the series for either the PlayStation Portable or PlayStation Vita accompanied every entry from MLB 06: The Show through MLB 15: The Show. The series started releasing on the PlayStation 4 with MLB 14: The Show.

After over two decades of exclusivity with PlayStation consoles, MLB: The Show ceased to be an exclusive PlayStation franchise, and was released on other console platforms, though the edition of the game at the time—MLB The Show 20—was a PlayStation 4 exclusive.[5] MLB The Show 21 is the first title in the series to feature on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, with those editions being co-published by MLB Advanced Media digitally. MLB The Show 22 is the first game of the series to be on a Nintendo console, released on the Nintendo Switch.[6]

Gameplay edit

Gameplay simulates a game of professional baseball, with the player controlling an entire team, a team's manager, or a select player. The player may take control of one of 30 Major League Baseball teams in any game mode and also is able to chose from 6 special team including NL and AL all star teams. (excluding Road to the Show) and use that team in gameplay. The Series has variable game modes in which a player takes control of a team for a single game, one season, or a franchise (multiple seasons). [7]

Predecessors from 989 Sports edit

GameRelease dateCover AthletePlatforms
StarTeam
MLB '98July 1, 1997Bernie WilliamsNew York YankeesPlayStation
MLB '99March 31, 1998Cal Ripken Jr.Baltimore Orioles
MLB 2000February 28, 1999Mo VaughnAnaheim Angels
MLB 2001February 29, 2000Chipper JonesAtlanta Braves
MLB 2002May 7, 2001Andruw Jones
MLB 2003June 17, 2002Barry BondsSan Francisco Giants
MLB 2004April 30, 2003Shawn GreenLos Angeles DodgersPlayStation, PlayStation 2
MLB 2005March 4, 2004Eric ChavezOakland Athletics
MLB 2006March 8, 2005Vladimir GuerreroLos Angeles AngelsPlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable

Games edit

GameRelease dateCover AthletePlatforms
StarTeam
MLB 06: The ShowFebruary 28, 2006David OrtizBoston Red SoxPlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable
MLB 07: The ShowFebruary 27, 2007 (PS2/PSP)David WrightNew York MetsPlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
May 15, 2007 (PS3)
MLB 08: The ShowMarch 4, 2008Ryan HowardPhiladelphia Phillies
MLB 09: The ShowMarch 3, 2009Dustin PedroiaBoston Red Sox
MLB 10: The ShowMarch 2, 2010Joe MauerMinnesota Twins
MLB 11: The ShowMarch 8, 2011
MLB 12: The ShowMarch 6, 2012Adrián GonzálezBoston Red SoxPlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
MLB 13: The ShowMarch 5, 2013Andrew McCutchenPittsburgh Pirates
MLB 14: The ShowApril 1, 2014 (PS3/Vita)Miguel CabreraDetroit TigersPlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
May 6, 2014 (PS4)
MLB 15: The ShowMarch 31, 2015Yasiel PuigLos Angeles Dodgers
MLB The Show 16March 29, 2016Josh DonaldsonToronto Blue JaysPlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
MLB The Show 17March 28, 2017Ken Griffey Jr.Seattle MarinersPlayStation 4
MLB The Show 18March 27, 2018Aaron JudgeNew York Yankees
MLB The Show 19March 26, 2019Bryce HarperPhiladelphia Phillies
MLB The Show 20March 17, 2020Javier BáezChicago Cubs
MLB The Show 21April 20, 2021Fernando Tatís Jr.San Diego PadresPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
MLB The Show 22April 5, 2022Shohei OhtaniLos Angeles AngelsPlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
MLB The Show 23March 28, 2023Jazz Chisholm Jr.Miami Marlins
MLB The Show 24March 19, 2024Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Toronto Blue Jays

Special Edition Covers edit

GameStarTeam
MLB The Show 21Jackie RobinsonBrooklyn Dodgers
MLB The Show 22Shohei OhtaniLos Angeles Angels
MLB The Show 23Derek JeterNew York Yankees

International Covers edit

Canada
GameStarTeam
MLB 12: The ShowJosé BautistaToronto Blue Jays
MLB 13: The Show
MLB 14: The ShowBrett Lawrie
MLB 15: The ShowRussell Martin
MLB The Show 16Josh Donaldson
MLB The Show 17Aaron Sanchez
MLB The Show 18Marcus Stroman
Korea
GameStarTeam
MLB 06: The ShowChan Ho ParkSan Diego Padres
MLB 14: The ShowShin-Soo ChooTexas Rangers
MLB 15: The Show
MLB The Show 16Jung-ho KangPittsburgh Pirates
MLB The Show 17Hyun-soo KimBaltimore Orioles
Taiwan
GameStarTeam
MLB 13: The ShowWei-Yin ChenBaltimore Orioles
MLB 14: The Show
MLB 15: The Show
MLB The Show 16Miami Marlins
MLB The Show 17

Commentators edit

Commentator060708091011121314151617181920212223Total appearances
Matt Vasgersian Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N16
Dave Campbell Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N N N N7
Rex Hudler Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N N N N N6
Eric Karros N N N N N Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N6
Steve Lyons N N N N N N N Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N4
Harold Reynolds N N N N N N N N N N N Y N N N N N N1
Dan Plesac N N N N N N N N N N N Y Y Y Y Y N N5
Mark DeRosa N N N N N N N N N N N N Y Y Y Y N N4
Heidi Watney N N N N N N N N N N N N N Y Y Y N N3
Jon Sciambi N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N Y Y2
Chris Singleton N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N Y Y2
Total33333433333334442

Reception and sales edit

YearGameSales
1997MLB '98
1998MLB '992.52 million
1999MLB 2000
2000MLB 2001
2001MLB 2002
2002MLB 2003
2003MLB 2004660,000
2004MLB 2005900,000
2005MLB 2006400,000
2006MLB 06: The Show940,000 (PS2), 350,000 (PSP)
2007MLB 07: The Show930,000 (PS2), 280,000 (PS3), 280,000 (PSP)
2008MLB 08: The Show420,000 (PS2), 700,000 (PS3), 330,000 (PSP)
2009MLB 09: The Show330,000 (PS2), 720,000 (PS3), 270,000 (PSP)
2010MLB 10: The Show410,000 (PS2), 730,000 (PS3), 210,000 (PSP)
2011MLB 11: The Show130,000 (PS2), 590,000 (PS3), 180,000 (PSP)
2012MLB 12: The Show930,000 (PS3), 200,000 (PSV)
2013MLB 13: The Show840,000 (PS3), 150,000 (PSV)
2014MLB 14: The Show430,000 (PS3), 730,000 (PS4), 120,000 (PSV)
2015MLB 15: The Show400,000 (PS3), 1.01 million (PS4), 40,000 (PSV)
2016MLB The Show 16380,000 (PS3), 960,000 (PS4)
2017MLB The Show 171.16 million
2018MLB The Show 181.06 million
2019MLB The Show 19
2020MLB The Show 20
2021MLB The Show 212 million[8]
2022MLB The Show 22
2023MLB The Show 23
2024MLB The Show 24

References edit

  1. ^ "MLB 11: The Show". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  2. ^ "MLB 12: The Show". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  3. ^ "MLB 09: The Show". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  4. ^ Square, Push (2020-01-17). "MLB The Show 19 Is the Best-Selling Baseball Game of All Time". Push Square. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  5. ^ a b "MLB The Show is Set to Begin Arriving on New Platforms as Soon as 2021". DualShockers. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  6. ^ Good, Owen S. (2022-01-31). "MLB The Show plays ball on Nintendo Switch this April". Polygon. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  7. ^ Kato, Matthew. "The Sports Desk – 48 MLB The Show 17 Details: Gameplay, Graphics, Diamond Dynasty & Road To The Show". gameinformer.com. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  8. ^ "PlayStation 5 Surpasses 10 Million Units Sold, Remains the Fastest Selling Console in Sony Interactive Entertainment History". www.businesswire.com. 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.