For years, MLB The Show has been regarded as the gold standard of baseball simulation games, but there’s one glaring issue that fans can’t ignore—the graphics in MLB The Show 25 are still disappointing. Despite being a next-gen title, the latest installment looks eerily similar to its predecessors, with minimal improvements in visual fidelity, player models, and stadium details.
So, why does a major sports franchise that releases annually on powerful hardware like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X still struggle to deliver a true next-gen visual experience? Let’s break down the reasons why MLB The Show 25’s graphics are still underwhelming and whether we can expect any real upgrades in the future.
Minimal Improvements: Does The Graphics in MLB The Show 25 Even Look Different?
Fans who were hoping for a massive visual overhaul in MLB The Show 25 have been left disappointed. Side-by-side comparisons with MLB The Show 24 reveal that textures, lighting, and animations remain nearly identical.
Key areas where the graphics remain stagnant:
- Player Models – Still lifeless and outdated, with unrealistic facial expressions and stiff animations.
- Stadium Detail – Crowd models continue to look generic and copy-pasted, with little variation.
- Lighting & Shadows – Little to no improvement, leading to a flat, outdated look.
- Jerseys & Textures – Lack of fabric movement or realistic textures, making uniforms appear stiff and unnatural.
With games like NBA 2K and FIFA making big strides in graphical realism, MLB The Show 25 feels stuck in the PlayStation 4 era.
Why Haven’t the Graphics Improved?
1. Legacy Engine Limitations
One of the biggest reasons MLB The Show 25’s graphics haven’t evolved is that the game still runs on an outdated engine. San Diego Studio has been using a modified version of its in-house engine for over a decade, tweaking it slightly each year instead of overhauling it.
Instead of rebuilding the game with a cutting-edge engine like Unreal Engine 5, they are patching an old system that simply can’t deliver the graphical improvements fans expect from a modern sports title.
2. Cross-Gen Development Holding It Back
Even though MLB The Show 25 is marketed as a next-gen title, it still releases on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. This means that the game has to be developed with old hardware in mind, limiting how much the graphics can improve.
3. Yearly Release Schedule = No Time for a Visual Overhaul
Unlike other major game franchises that have time to develop and improve visuals over several years, MLB The Show is on an annual release cycle. This leaves little time for major graphical upgrades.
Instead of focusing on visuals, San Diego Studio prioritizes gameplay tweaks, roster updates, and minor feature additions—all while using the same graphical assets from previous years.
4. Lack of Competition
Unlike other sports games that have multiple competing titles (such as NBA 2K vs. EA’s NBA Live), MLB The Show is the only major simulation baseball game. With no direct rival, San Diego Studio doesn’t feel pressure to invest heavily in next-gen graphics.
If EA or another developer introduced a competing MLB game, we might finally see a push for better visuals.
What Could Improve MLB The Show’s Graphics?
If San Diego Studio wants to truly upgrade the graphics in future MLB The Show games, they need to:
- Switch to a new game engine (Unreal Engine 5 or a custom next-gen engine)
- Stop supporting old consoles like PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch
- Extend the development cycle beyond a single year to allow major graphical improvements
- Hire more specialists in realistic motion capture and facial animation
How MLB The Show Could Improve Without a Graphics Overhaul
While many fans criticize MLB The Show 25 for its lack of major graphical improvements, others argue that the game already looks good enough—but its immersion suffers in other key areas. Instead of just making the visuals crisper, San Diego Studio should focus on upgrading animations, commentary, and overall presentation to make the game feel more dynamic.
1. Better Flowing Animations
One of the biggest complaints about Graphics in MLB The Show 25 is that animations still feel stiff and disconnected. In a sport that thrives on fluid motion, player movements often look robotic, with awkward transitions between fielding, hitting, and throwing.
Ways improved animations could make the game feel more realistic:
- Smoother fielding transitions – Players should seamlessly field a ground ball and throw to first without unnecessary delays.
- More realistic batting stances and swings – Each batter’s swing should feel unique and natural rather than repetitive.
- Better outfielder momentum – Outfielders stopping on a dime after sprinting breaks immersion. Momentum-based movement would add realism.
- Expanded pitcher windups and deliveries – More variety in pitching motions would help differentiate players beyond just their pitch arsenal.
The best sports games today use motion capture technology to create hyper-realistic animations. While Graphics in MLB The Show 25 does utilize motion capture, it still relies on recycled animations from previous years. Investing in new motion capture for every major player movement would make the game feel far more natural.
2. Enhanced Commentary and Broadcast Presentation
Another area where graphics in MLB The Show 25 feel stale is its commentary and overall broadcast presentation. The game’s commentary has barely changed over the last few years, leading to repetitive voice lines that players quickly tune out.
How to make the commentary feel more dynamic:
- More unique voice lines – Current commentators should record significantly more lines to reduce repetition.
- Game-specific discussions – Commentary should reference player performances from previous games in Franchise and Road to the Show modes.
- Dynamic storytelling – Imagine commentators talking about a player’s hot streak, a bad slump, or even a rivalry developing between teams over a season.
3. Rotating Announcer Teams for a Fresh Experience
One of the biggest things missing from MLB The Show is a realistic broadcast feel. In real life, you don’t always hear the same commentators every single game. Adding a second or third commentary team that rotates throughout the season would make the experience feel much more authentic.
- Multiple broadcast crews – Just like how real MLB games rotate between different networks, the game could feature one set of commentators for national games and another for regional broadcasts.
- Specialty analysts – A guest analyst for major events, like the playoffs or All-Star Game, would make those games feel more exciting.
- Pre- and post-game shows – A quick recap of big plays and key performances would add an extra layer of immersion.
4. Improved Crowd and Stadium Atmosphere
Another way MLB The Show 25 could improve without a graphical overhaul is by making stadium environments more alive.
- More realistic crowd reactions – Fans should react differently in playoff games versus regular-season matchups.
- Stadium-specific chants – Certain ballparks are known for unique chants and traditions, which should be reflected in the game.
- More variation in fan behavior – Crowds should look different based on the teams playing, the weather, and the importance of the game.
Will MLB The Show Ever Get a True Next-Gen Upgrade?
At this point, it seems unlikely that MLB The Show will see any major graphical leap until at least MLB The Show 26 or 27. Unless San Diego Studio commits to a full engine upgrade and drops last-gen consoles, we’ll likely see only minor tweaks each year rather than a true next-gen transformation.
Until then, fans will have to settle for small graphical updates while continuing to question why a franchise backed by Major League Baseball can’t deliver cutting-edge visuals.
