San Diego Studio published a new developer blog today, outlining several of the systems being reworked for MLB The Show 26. This expands upon the game’s official announcement last month. While we still don’t have an official release date, the latest dev blog gives the clearest picture yet of how gameplay, Franchise mode, and Road to the Show are evolving.
Here’s what the team at SDS has revealed. If you wish to see the source for yourself, check out the dev blog here.
SDS Explains New Gameplay Tweaks
SDS continues to push realism on the defensive side, with several changes built around animation coverage and improved baseball IQ. ASDS plans to implement new gameplay features, such as fielders having more efficient catches on the run, new cutoff-throw animations that trigger more naturally, and expanded behavior for knee-down catchers. Pop Time will be its own attribute this year, creating a bigger gap between elite defenders and everyone else.
Reaction has also been broken into four directional ratings instead of a single catch-all number, which is meant to reflect real-world tracking data and give fielders more situational nuance depending on where the ball is hit. SDS also notes new defensive catch animations tied to different surfaces and wall types, with physics playing a larger role.
On the batting side, several new systems are coming: Bear Down, Big Zone Hitting, PCI Sensitivity (a big one), Fixed Zone, and Free Anchor. Full explanations weren’t provided, but SDS says more details will arrive next year. ABS and PitchCom will also factor into gameplay, further aligning the series with modern MLB tech.
Smarter Lineups And A Redone Front Office In Franchise Mode
Improvements to Franchise mode have long been promised by SDS, but seldom delivered. So take this next section with a grain of salt. That said, SDS has promised multiple changes to the way Franchise mode works in MLB The Show 26, with many improvements centered on lineup building, trade logic, and overall team management.
SDS shared early screenshots, comparing The Show 25‘s lineup AI with a work-in-progress The Show 26 version. And yeah, the difference is noticeable, should it be an actually AI-created lineup card.
The new system reportedly leans heavily on modern baseball methodology:
- High-OBP hitters appearing in the leadoff spot
- The team’s best bat moving to the No. 2 hole
- Performance-based shuffling as the season progresses
The goal appears to be lineups that evolve naturally instead of remaining static or producing awkward batting-order decisions.
Expanded College Path In Road To The Show
RTTS continues to build on last year’s “Amateur Years” format. Players will now have 11 additional colleges to choose from — UNC and Oregon State were confirmed today — and a deeper College World Series path before reaching the pros. SDS also mentions various refinements to the existing flow of the mode, though specifics weren’t detailed.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about MLB The Show 26, but this update at least establishes what SDS is prioritizing heading into the new year. Hopefully, they make do on these promises.
