MLB The Show 21
MLB The Show 21 | |
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![]() Cover art featuring Fernando Tatís Jr. | |
Developer(s) | San Diego Studio |
Publisher(s) | |
Series | MLB: The Show |
Platform(s) |
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Release | April 20, 2021 |
Genre(s) | Sports |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
MLB The Show 21 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 and PlayStation 5, as well as the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S (a first for the franchise) which included it being on Xbox Game Pass at the release for the first time, with MLB Advanced Media co-publishing digital versions on the latter platforms. The sixteenth entry of the MLB: The Show franchise, it was released on April 20, 2021.[1] San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatís Jr. is featured as the cover star, and at age 22 is the youngest player to do so.[2]
Gameplay[]
Matt Vasgersian, Mark DeRosa and Dan Plesac return as play-by-play commentators, Heidi Watney as sideline reporter and Alex Miniak as public address commentator.
New to the series is the ballpark creator feature, which gives players the ability to change ballpark dimensions, wall height, foul territory and other scenery options. This feature also allows players to share and download ballparks that other players have created online. It was exclusive to the ninth generation versions of the game.[3]
Release[]
For the first time in the series, the game was made available on Xbox consoles, with cross-platform compatibility between the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.[4] It was also announced that the Xbox versions of the game would be available for Xbox Game Pass subscribers at no additional cost at release, a decision made solely by co-publisher MLB Advanced Media and not Sony themselves.[5][6]
Baseball legend Jackie Robinson was on the cover of the collector's edition, with $1 donated to his foundation for each copy of the edition sold in the United States.[1]
Reception[]
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | PS4: 79/100[7] PS5: 78/100[8] XSX: 81/100[9] |
Publication | Score |
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Game Informer | 8.5/10[10] |
GameSpot | 7/10[11] |
GamesRadar+ | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Hardcore Gamer | 4.5/5[13] |
IGN | 8/10[14] |
MLB The Show 21 received "generally favorable reviews" from critics, according to review aggregate Metacritic.
GameSpot gave the game 7/10, praising the Stadium Creator and changes to pitching but criticizing the lack of additions to Road to the Show and Franchise modes, saying, "Much like its predecessors, MLB The Show 21 is still one of the best sports games available once you step over the foul line."[11] GamesRadar+ gave the game 4/5 stars, calling it "a solid home-run hitter, but not the baseball revolution we were hoping for on PS5 and Xbox Series X." IGN gave it 8/10, saying: "MLB The Show 21 isn't the generational leap forward we might've expected following a new console launch, but it's still the best baseball sim you can play on any platform."
Sales[]
In the US, MLB The Show 21 was the best-selling digital game across PlayStation and Xbox platforms for the month of April 2021.[15][16] By July 18, 2021, the game had surpassed 2 million sales across all platforms, with the game reaching 4 million players.[17]
Soundtrack[]
Artist | Song |
---|---|
116 (feat. Lecrae & Funky) | La Fiesta |
Abstract Rude (feat. Slug & Brother Ali) | The Solution |
AC/DC | Shot in the Dark |
Big K.R.I.T. | Pick Up the Pace |
Dillon Francis (feat. BABYJAKE) | You Do You |
Foo Fighters | Making a Fire |
Foreign Air | Life Goes On |
Future Islands | For Sure |
Gorillaz (feat. Beck) | The Valley of the Pagans |
IDK | Santa Monica Blvd |
Juvenile | Ha |
Michael Brun (feat. Barbatuques) | Destemperado |
Onyx | Slam |
Ozuna | El Oso del Dinero |
Phil Augusta Jackson | Get It |
Relaye | Long Time Coming |
Royal Blood | Oblivion |
Run the Jewels (feat. Royal Blood) | The Ground Below (Royal Jewels Mix) |
Songhoy Blues | Worry |
The Avalanches (feat. Denzel Curry, Tricky, & Sampa the Great) | Take Care in Your Dreaming |
The Strokes | Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus |
Travis Barker & Wiz Khalifa | Drums Drums Drums |
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ a b "Jackie to be on special MLB The Show cover". MLB.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
- ^ "Introducing our MLB The Show 21 cover athlete Fernando Tatis Jr". PlayStation.Blog. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
- ^ MLB The Show 21 – 4K 60FPS Get the lowdown on Stadium Creator with Coach & Fernando | PS5, retrieved 2021-03-23
- ^ Good, Owen S. (1 February 2021). "MLB The Show 21 launches on PS5 — and Xbox Series X — in April". Polygon.
- ^ Lyles, Taylor (2 April 2021). "Sony's MLB The Show 21 will arrive on Xbox Game Pass at launch". The Verge.
- ^ "MLB reportedly made the decision to bring MLB the Show 21 to Xbox Game Pass". 6 April 2021.
- ^ "MLB The Show 21 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ "MLB The Show 21 for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "MLB The Show 21 for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ Reiner, Andrew (April 22, 2021). "MLB The Show 21 Review – A Familiar Crack Of The Bat". Game Informer. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Petite, Steven (April 20, 2020). "MLB The Show 21 Review - Batter Up". GameSpot. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "MLB the Show 21 review: "Strong in so many areas, yet also an opportunity missed"". 21 April 2021.
- ^ "Review: MLB the Show 21 - Hardcore Gamer".
- ^ "MLB the Show 21 Review - IGN".
- ^ Elston, Brett (May 10, 2021). "MLB The Show 21 and Returnal debut, with GTA V and FIFA 21 still going strong". PlayStation Blog. Sony. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ Tuttle, Will (June 10, 2021). "Bringing the Joy and Community of Gaming to Everyone". Xbox Wire. Microsoft. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "PlayStation 5 Surpasses 10 Million Units Sold, Remains the Fastest Selling Console in Sony Interactive Entertainment History". www.businesswire.com. 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
- 2021 video games
- MLB: The Show video games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- PlayStation 4 games
- PlayStation 5 games
- Sony Interactive Entertainment games
- Sports video games with career mode
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video games with cross-platform play
- Video games with downloadable content
- Xbox One games
- Xbox Series X and Series S games