MLB The Show 26 gets a confirmed release date

Aaron Judge is the cover athlete for MLB The Show 26

Baseball simulation game MLB The Show 26 has a confirmed release date. It will launch on March 17 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch, developer San Diego Studio and publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment announced.

Pre-orders for MLB The Show will open on February 3 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET on TheShow.com, platform stores and select retailers. San Diego Studio will also release the gameplay trailer on the same date.

MLB The Show 26 features Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees as the cover athlete. Aaron was the cover athlete for MLB The Show 18 as well.

According to the developers, gameplay in MLB The Show 26 will see the inclusion of “advanced logic and new data metrics, redefining ratings, pitch effects, and bat-ball physics.” Here are a few examples of how they work in the game:

“New catches on the run allow fielders to cover bases in a more realistic and efficient way. New, more efficient cutoff throws enable corner infielders to get rid of the ball more naturally while cutting down runners trying to take an extra base,” the developers noted in a blog post.

The game features new defensive catch animations and new Knee-down catchers animations.  The Fielders Reaction rating is now split into four directional attributes.

MLB The Show 26 also comes with new gameplay features like “Bear Down”, “Big Zone Hitting”, “PCI Sensitivity”, “Fixed Zone”, and “Free Anchor”. The baseball simulator will have a redesigned Front Office Experience in Franchise mode. It adds a new trade experience, improved lineup and rotation logic.