MLB The Show has quickly become the central point of one of the biggest stories so far this year. After years of exclusivity on PlayStation, it was big enough news when MLB the Show 21 was announced to be coming to Xbox, but the avalanche of information since then has made it so that the baseball simulator is a huge storyline.
Along with the excitement of MLB The Show 21 coming to Xbox players, the game will also be arriving on Xbox Game Pass on April 20, 2021, when it launches. This is a massive win for Xbox and for its fans, as April has already been an amazing month for Xbox Game Pass. The addition of MLB The Show 21 should not simply be considered a home run in terms of bringing on the baseball sim to Xbox players, but a grand slam for the service as a whole.
From PlayStation Exclusive to 'Free' With Xbox Game Pass
It is exciting news when any game is added to Xbox Game Pass, but the addition of MLB The Show 21 to Xbox Game Pass is something that cannot be understated, especially considering it will be available on day one when the game launches. This means that a franchise that was once only available on PlayStation is now technically free with Xbox Game Pass, at least compared to being a full-priced title on the PlayStation, and that turnaround is remarkable. If there are fans of the franchise who are still on the fence about which next-generation console to buy (PS5 or Xbox Series X|S), something like this can help make that decision.
One of the aspects of the story that is interesting is that MLB is reportedly publishing the Xbox version of MLB The Show 21, not PlayStation. There is little doubt that a lot of wheeling and dealing went on behind the scenes to make this Xbox Game Pass deal happen. It is possible that Microsoft spent a pretty penny to get MLB The Show 21 on Xbox Game Pass, and it is likely that San Diego Studio (owned by Sony) will get a healthy portion of the deal. But the bottom line for the sake of the gamer is that as long as someone is subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, MLB The Show 21 is now effectively free on Xbox.
MLB The Show 21 Opens the Door to Similar Xbox Game Pass Moves in the Future
MLB The Show 21 coming to Xbox Game Pass also opens the door for future games of its ilk coming to the platform. When it was revealed that People Can Fly's Outriders would be a day one Xbox Game Pass game, it became more clear than ever that Microsoft/Xbox was being aggressive with its additions in very interesting ways. But while Outriders is a multiplatform third-party title, MLB The Show is a series that was published by PlayStation and once a Sony exclusive. The move could theoretically open the door to future Xbox Game Pass additions that are currently exclusive to other platforms.
While it would seem impossible to think that a game like Ratchet and Clank from PlayStation or a Kirby title from Nintendo would be on an Xbox console, the idea that PlayStation budged (perhaps with the right price from Xbox) with MLB The Show opens the door. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has said that each Xbox Game Pass deal is unique in terms of the setup between the developer/publisher and Xbox. While it would be a shocker to see Nathan Drake or Mario come to Xbox Game Pass on day one, no one would have suspected MLB The Show to be a day one title either. Xbox has shown it is willing to make the deals happen.
MLB The Show 21 is the Another Reason Why Xbox Game Pass is the Best Deal in Gaming
In the end, the addition of MLB The Show 21 is another "win" for Xbox and another reason why Xbox Game Pass is the best deal in gaming. The starting point of why the subscription matters is all of the Xbox first-party content, and with the recent Bethesda acquisition, it matters more than ever to have all of those games on day one moving forward and indefinitely. On top of that, Xbox is constantly rotating fun and meaningful games within the service. Microsoft also has recently doubled down on backward compatibility as well, as it has added iconic classic games to Xbox Game Pass.
But with massive games like the aforementioned third-party Outriders coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one and now MLB The Show 21 (a once first-party exclusive title) doing the same, it is becoming more clear than ever that Xbox Game Pass is a must-have service. And if the gigantic acquisitions continue to happen, if big-name games are being added to Xbox Game Pass regularly, then fans should expect to see the service continue to grow.
MLB The Show 21 is releasing on April 20 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.