MLB The Show 22
Cover art featuring Shohei Ohtani
Developer(s)San Diego Studio
Publisher(s)
SeriesMLB: The Show
Platform(s)
ReleaseApril 5, 2022
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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 and 2021 American League MVP 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 Power Pros series from Konami, eBaseball Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2022.

Updates

Reception

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]

During the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated MLB The Show 22 for "Sports Game of the Year".[21]

Notes

  1. ^ Non-PlayStation digital versions
  2. ^ Non-PlayStation physical versions

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sho-Time! MLB The Show 22 coming April 5". MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. ^ Russell, Ramone (February 2, 2022). "Famous Illustrator Takashi Okazaki Creates MLB The Show 22's Collector's Edition Cover Art Featuring Shohei Ohtani". Xbox Wire. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Russell, Ramone (January 31, 2022). "Shohei Ohtani: Unanimous AL MVP is Your MLB The Show 22 Cover Athlete". Xbox Wire. Archived from the original on September 16, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  4. ^ Gurwin, Gabe (April 4, 2022). "MLB The Show 22: Release Time And How To Play Early". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Wells, Cory (March 9, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 Updates Audio Experience Including New Commentary". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Wakeling, Richard (April 7, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 Review - It's Shotime". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "MLB The Show 22 for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "MLB The Show 22 for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "MLB The Show 22 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Reiner, Andrew (April 13, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Paprocki, Matt (April 5, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 review: "Fun, authentic and comprehensive baseball"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  12. ^ Wells, Cory (April 8, 2022). "Review: MLB The Show 22". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Lloret, Alberto (April 4, 2022). "Análisis MLB The Show 22 para PS5 y Xbox Series X|S, una apuesta segura para los amantes del béisbol" [MLB The Show 22 review for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, a safe bet for baseball lovers]. HobbyConsolas (in Spanish). Axel Springer SE. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Koreis, Justin (April 7, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  15. ^ Izokay (April 22, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 : Le jeu vidéo de Baseball de Sony dispo sur Xbox toujours aussi solide" [MLB The Show 22 : Sony's Baseball video game available on Xbox still going strong]. Jeuxvideo.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Whitehead, Thomas (April 5, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Ronaghan, Neal (April 14, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  18. ^ Barker, Sammy (April 8, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 Review (PS5)". Push Square. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  19. ^ a b Jarrard, Chris (April 13, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 review: Take an old friend on the go". Shacknews. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  20. ^ Ravetto, Marco (April 8, 2022). "MLB The Show 22 – Recensione" [MLB The Show 22 – Review]. The Games Machine (in Italian). Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  21. ^ "2023 Awards Category Details Sports Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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