What new players are in MLB The Show 22?

Like the games industry as a whole, MLB The Show 22 will push the boundaries of crossplay and accessibility with its Tuesday release. 

The latest from developer San Diego Studio in the long-running juggernaut baseball series takes the former PlayStation exclusive and puts it on both Microsoft game systems as well as the Nintendo Switch. 

Along the way, it boasts notable crossplay multiplayer and progression that is unified across all three ecosystems. 

That's huge for a number of reasons, chief among them the fact the playerbase for online modes should remain healthy for the duration of the game's lifecycle. It's also fitting given two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels graces the cover this year. 

Release Details

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Developer:  San Diego Studio

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Release Date: Tuesday, April 5

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Cover star: Shohei Ohtani

Features to Know

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Like most years, The Show gets a ton of new features across the board. 

There are, for example, a few new difficulty options aimed at making the game more accessible for all players. Besides the expected graphical upticks and new animations, there will be new announcers in the booth calling games, too. 

Updates abound on the gameplay side, too. Batters in the box can now go all-in on one small section of the hit zone where they believe the pitch will go, providing bonuses—or serious drawbacks for misses. On the mound, a new Perfect Accuracy Region will help guide even the newest players in where all pitches should be placed. 

And out in the field, that same sort of mechanic now extends to all positions. Last year, the timing-based placement of correct trigger placement was exclusive to outfielders. Now, the minigame-within-a-game will have players zipping perfect throws all over the field, potentially acting as both a strong guiding hand for new players and a skill-gap difference-maker, too. 

While not overly shocking, the new pass of features will help breathe new life into the experience, especially for those returning to the series.

Updates to Top Modes

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Road to the Show is usually the first thing that comes to mind when discussing a new The Show game. 

The create-a-ballplayer mode set the tone for most similar sports games in the industry and will likely do so in this year's version. The in-depth locker room experience and conversations from last year get new additions in 22 and the developers have opened things up for players, allowing them to make more than one character as they pursue making the jump from the minors to the big leagues. 

Diamond Dynasty is the other, as the card-based game gets some serious work in the form of digestible content. Mini-Seasons are exactly what they sound like—players get to partake in 28-game seasons against the computer before the playoffs. Besides the much-needed love in the form of time investment, daily and weekly challenges, there are already droves of themed packs and time-limited rewards in modes like the Battle Royale. 

Then there's online co-op, a new addition permitting two-on-two or three-on-three gameplay. It loops in both the Play Now and Diamond Dynasty modes, meaning players can use real-life rosters or test their card collections. Players interestingly swap positional responsibilities every inning (pitcher and catcher or the rest of the defense). 

While other game modes like franchise return with minor notes here and there, those are the big three that make up the bulk of the changes and are likely where most players will spend their time once the game launches on Tuesday.

MLB The Show 22 is a baseball video game by San Diego Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, based on Major League Baseball (MLB). It was released for the PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, as well as Nintendo Switch, a first for the franchise.[1] The seventeenth entry of the MLB: The Show franchise, it was released on April 5, 2022.[1] Los Angeles Angels two-way (pitcher and batter) player Shohei Ohtani is featured as the cover star.[1] A special manga style art by Takashi Okazaki of Shohei Ohtani is featured on the cover art for the MVP and Digital Deluxe editions of MLB The Show 22.[2]

For the second consecutive year, the Xbox versions of the game are available for Xbox Game Pass subscribers at no additional cost.[3] People who purchased the MVP or Digital Deluxe editions received early access to the game starting April 1.[4]

It marked one of the first MLB The Show games without any competitors in the United States, either simulation or arcade, as the R.B.I. Baseball series ended due to the Switch getting a port, although in Japan, the sole competitor is the latest entry to the Pawapuro series from Konami, eBaseball Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2022.

• The Stadium Creator received updates to be dynamic, though it is not on the 8th generation systems (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
• MLB on ESPN Radio announcers Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton are the new play-by-play commentators, with Alex Miniak remaining the public address announcer.[5]
• The March to October game mode was expanded to last multiple seasons instead of one-and-done.[6]

Reception[edit]

MLB The Show 22 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to Metacritic.[7][8][9]

GameSpot gave the game 7/10, praising the gameplay and expansion to various game modes but criticized the lack of innovation elsewhere and repetitive commentary.[6] In its 4/5 review, GamesRadar+ similarly complimented the addition to the March to October mode but lamented the limited additions otherwise, saying: "Gripes aside, MLB The Show 22 remains a fun, authentic and comprehensive simulation, among the industry's best. Ignoring the surrounding marketplace pressure to reiterate and innovate, Sony's series sits alongside NBA 2K as the premier pro sports offering."[11] In its 7/10 review, IGN wrote, "MLB The Show 22 is mostly a retread of an already great game, but more bugs than usual and the not quite ready for primetime co-op mode are signs this series may be losing some velocity."[14] Game Informer noted that while MLB The Show 22's core gameplay was solid, it was becoming stale. The site also criticized the game's technical issues, writing, "A week after launch, MLB The Show 22's online performance is shaky...Online stability continues to be a huge hole...While the new Switch iteration offers all the content of the PlayStation and Xbox versions, it suffers from framerate stuttering and significant graphical flickering." Push Square and Shacknews praised the gameplay, seasons, co-op, and streamlined format while panning the unimproved visuals, aging game modes, and repetitive commentary. Several review outlets noted that while the Switch version suffered from major technical issues such as framerate stutters and scaled back visuals, it was still playable and fun.[17][10][16][19]

What new players will be in MLB The Show 22?

Ryan Howard. New in 2022..
Ken Griffey Sr. New in 2022 03/28/2022..
Vida Blue. New in 2022 03/28/2022..
Roberto Clemente. New in 2022 03/28/2022..
Robin Yount. New in 2022 03/28/2022..
Joe Mauer. New in 2022..
Rob Dibble. New in 2022 03/28/2022..
Cy Young. New in 2022 03/28/2022..

What players are in MLB The Show 22?

MLB The Show 22 Ratings Database.
Corbin Burnes. SP | Brewers. ... .
Mike Trout. CF | Angels. ... .
Ronald Acuña Jr. CF | Braves. ... .
Jacob deGrom. SP | Mets. ... .
Trea Turner. 2B | Dodgers. ... .
Fernando Tatis Jr. SS | Padres. ... .
Mookie Betts. RF | Dodgers. ... .
Aaron Judge. RF | Yankees..

Are Legends in MLB The Show 22?

In the Legends of the Franchise featured program in MLB The Show 22, legends throughout baseball history are honored and celebrated with one player from each franchise's past getting a 99 Overall boss card.

What has changed in MLB The Show 22?

MLB The Show 22 Lets Players Make Multiple Ballplayers This year, MLB The Show 22 is fundamentally altering this game element by allowing players to create multiple Ballplayers rather than just one. Progression has also been changed to be more consistent.