MLB The Show 26: Ten Changes Could Make Game
I’ve played baseball video games since MLB Pennant Race on the PlayStation 1, and I’ve been covering sports titles for nearly two decades. Baseball was my first love, and no game has captured its rhythm and authenticity like MLB The Show 25. The gameplay still hits—pitch/bat battles feel honest, the ball physics make sense, and the ebb and flow of the sport is beautifully intact.
Visually, there’s still room to climb, but The Show 25 stands on one of the strongest foundations in sports gaming. That’s why I believe MLB The Show 26 has the potential to elevate from steady to special. Below are ten key changes that would make it happen.
Franchise & Creation Suite: History, Control, and Customization
1. Bring Back Carryover Saves & Carryover Rosters
Franchise mode is the soul of The Show—and it always has been. The removal of carryover saves and rosters was a gut punch to long-term players and the creator community. If technical constraints prevent direct carryovers, the developers could introduce a workaround: a web-based import/export tool for roster files, similar to Madden’s old TeamBuilder. This would allow creators to share CSV-based custom, legend, or fictional rosters without having to start from scratch every year.
For those of us who live in Franchise mode, legacy continuity matters. It’s the heartbeat of the mode’s identity.
2. Expansion Teams (A Real Feature, Not Workarounds)
Real MLB expansion talk never dies, so why not simulate it in-game? Imagine adding two new teams, running an expansion draft, assigning minor-league affiliates, and managing an adjusted schedule. It’s complex, sure, but it’s the next natural evolution for Franchise. Sports games have long been about “what ifs,” and nothing captures that better than shaping your own baseball universe from the ground up.
3. Custom Realignment
Let players redraw divisions however they want. Pair the Cubs and White Sox, match up the Mets and Yankees, or realign entirely by geography. Combine this with expansion, and Franchise mode becomes a sandbox for baseball world-building. It’s flexibility that deepens immersion—and it’s long overdue.
Diamond Dynasty: Structure, Balance, and Variety
4. Platoon Lineups, Please
Real baseball lives and dies by matchups. It’s time The Show reflected that in Diamond Dynasty. Allow players to set separate lineups for left- and right-handed pitchers before Ranked games. From a UI standpoint, it’s a simple toggle on the lineup screen—but the strategic depth it adds is enormous. It mirrors real baseball logic and removes the clunkiness of mid-game adjustments.
5. A Salary-Cap PvP Mode
By midseason, Diamond Dynasty turns into a wall of 99s. Every team starts to look the same, and creativity fades. The fix? Introduce a new online mode that uses a salary-cap system. Keep Ranked, Battle Royale, and Events as they are—but add a mode where players must build lineups under a set “budget.” Rotate eligible cards regularly, and suddenly those mid-tier 92s and 95s have real value again. Think Battle Royale strategy—only with your own cards.
6. Monthly Surprise Legends (Staggered Reveal Calendar)
Don’t drop all new legends at launch. Spread them throughout the season—tie reveals to baseball’s biggest moments like Opening Day, the All-Star break, or Hall of Fame inductions. Even lesser-known legends feel special when introduced as part of a curated schedule. It keeps the content pipeline exciting and players engaged all year.
7. Home Run Frenzy Minigame
Inject a bit of arcade fun into Diamond Dynasty. Imagine a Home Run Frenzy mode—stadium-specific target maps, bonus points for distance, and multiplier chains that reward precision. Tie it into parallel XP or themed rewards, and you’ve got a mini-event that breaks the grind with a dose of The Bigs-style flair. Baseball is at its most joyful.
Presentation & Feel: Eyes, Ears, and Collisions
8. A Real Visual Jump to “Next-Gen”
MLB The Show isn’t ugly, but compared to the leaps made by NBA 2K, Madden, or WWE 2K, its visuals are starting to lag. The lighting, shaders, and crowds all need an overhaul. With the rumored Switch 2 raising the baseline for cross-platform releases, The Show 26 should make its biggest graphical leap yet. This franchise deserves the same “wow” factor that other top sports titles deliver each year.
9. True Player-to-Player Physics
We’ve all seen it—the awkward slide where a runner’s hand clips through a fielder’s leg, or two outfielders merge into one while chasing a fly ball. Realistic body collisions and physical interactions would elevate immersion dramatically. Even soft contact—like glancing bumps on double plays or ricochets off shin guards—would make the game’s physicality feel more authentic.
10. Multiple Announce Teams (Local Feels + National Booth)
Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton do solid work as the national broadcast voices, but The Show could shine with regional flair. Imagine local broadcast pes: Braves fans hearing their homer announcers, Yankees fans getting a Bronx cadence, or Cubs fans enjoying that Wrigley familiarity. Keep the national booth for marquee games, but let Franchise and Season modes feel local. Commentary variety would go a long way toward breaking repetition and deepening immersion.
The Bottom Line
MLB The Show 25 is already one of the most consistent, satisfying sports titles out there. The gameplay feels grounded, the mechanics are refined, and the love for baseball is undeniable. But with just a handful of key upgrades—carryover saves, expansion, realignment, smarter online modes, visual polish, and local flavor—MLB The Show 26 could become the definitive modern baseball experience. MLB The Show 26 is expected to be released in March 2026. MMOexp will provide you with the latest information and MLB The Show 26 Stubs service to bring you more fun in your game.
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