MLB The Show 22: All Road To The Show Changes

Road to the Show is a staple game mode of the MLB The Show series, so it’s little surprise that the feature returns in MLB The Show 22, albeit with some upgrades. As in the series’ previous games, players will be allowed to customize their own Ballplayer and watch them progress to the major leagues. It’s a long process, but the grind is accompanied by immersive storytelling and plenty of unique gameplay opportunities that help make the journey feel worthwhile. Hopefully, MLB The Show 22‘s new additions to the campaign will make the franchise staple even more compelling than before.

There are quite a few different game modes to explore in MLB The Show, including Diamond Dynasty – a card-based team-building option – and online co-op. This year’s edition of MLB The Show will allow cross-play between different consoles, and for the first time in the franchise’s history, this also includes the Nintendo Switch. Other new additions to the series include an updated version of the game’s Stadium Creator mode, although this will only be available for current-gen consoles like the PS5. Current-gen players will also have access to 4K resolution and 60fps. Fortunately, MLB The Show players who purchased the game on last-generation consoles will be able to pay a $10 fee to upgrade to the Xbox Series X/S or PS5 version of MLB The Show 22 later on.

MLB The Show 22‘s changes to Road to the Show were covered extensively in late March during one of Sony San Diego Studio’s weekly streams. These Feature Premiers served not only to let long-time MLB The Show fans know what to expect from the latest entry in the game franchise but also to illuminate upcoming changes to the series’ formula. An archived version of the stream in question can be found on Sony San Diego’s official YouTube channel. However, given the game was released to the general public on April 5 – although those who purchased the MVP or Deluxe pre-order editions of MLB The Show 22 were afforded four days of early access – players also have the chance to dive right into the Road to the Show game mode and discover all the changes for themselves.

Road To The Show’s Narrative Becomes More Immersive

Given that the Road to the Show game mode primarily serves as a story-based venture, it’s little surprise that one of the most significant changes coming to MLB The Show 22‘s iteration of the feature focuses on its narrative structure. According to MLB The Show 22‘s developers, the Road to the Show campaign has been given more depth, allowing for more dynamic responses to player choices and unique scenarios that help the lengthy career capture attention that much more successfully. While MLB 22‘s Road to the Show feature likely won’t depart too far from the general structure fans expect, each challenge and success should feel more rewarding in the series’ latest entry. In addition, a few new faces are also coming to the podcast element of Road to the Show, helping to refresh the commentary that runs through the campaign while still keeping players up-to-date on the latest in-universe baseball news as well as the progression of their Ballplayer.

Progression, Perks & Challenges In MLB The Show 22

In previous MLB The Show games, Ballplayers could be utilized in Diamond Dynasty and online game modes, an option that would arguably help players to progress even quicker than they could in Road to the Show. In April’s MLB The Show 22, this was re-balanced to prioritize offline players. Now, Ballplayer progression will primarily be done in the Road to the Show campaign through missions, making for a more cohesive tie between narrative and gameplay in the career game mode. Progress is also faster now, thanks to a few other balance changes, and several quality-of-life additions have been provided. Among these is the ability to use multiple archetype items per program. According to developers, many of these updates were made in direct response to player feedback from MLB The Show 21.

More of a distinction has been made between Road to the Show and MLB The Show 22‘s online gameplay, too. For example, if players level up certain pitches offline, that won’t necessarily carry over to online matches. Separating the Road to the Show almost entirely from Diamond Dynasty should help both gameplay modes feel complete. Perks and challenges are a bit more dynamic in MLB The Show 22, as well, responding more directly to specific situations or popping up during certain at-bats. Many of these aspects will remain relatively faithful to the overhauls they received in other recent MLB The Show titles. Players who weren’t fond of the direction the series has moved in lately might not enjoy Road to the Show in MLB The Show 22, which doubles down on quite a few of the improvements made in MLB The Show 21 and earlier.

MLB The Show 22 Lets Players Make Multiple Ballplayers

A vital part of the Road to the Show is the ability for players to design and play as a customizable character known as a Ballplayer. This year, MLB The Show 22 is fundamentally altering this game element by allowing players to create multiple Ballplayers rather than just one. Progression has also been changed to be more consistent. Rather than Ballplayers being good at essentially everything, players will need to hone in on which strengths they want each character to have. Additionally, playstyles can be selected right from the get-go, and making changes later on to aspects like appearance is much simpler. All of MLB The Show‘s recent improvements should also, in theory, make a more compelling argument for multiple playthroughs of the Road to the Show. This could make it easier for MLB The Show enthusiasts to endure the wait for the next game in the franchise.

Overall, it looks as though San Diego Studio aims to continue embracing many of the new directions MLB The Show has taken in recent years, such as current-gen exclusive features like Stadium Creator and overhauled perks. However, MLB The Show 22‘s developers also seem to be conscious of player criticism. Although MLB The Show 22‘s tech test, which ran in February 2022, allowed some players to provide early feedback on some of the significant changes in MLB The Show, the majority of the player base will have to discover all of San Diego Studio’s alterations to MLB The Show‘s formula as they progress through the Road to the Show and other game modes.

Source: Sony San Diego/YouTube

About The Author

Ky Shinkle
(528 Articles Published)

Ky Shinkle is a Senior Gaming Features Writer for Screen Rant as well as an overall avid gamer and writer. Her prior experience is primarily that of a narrative designer for video games, although her writing has covered all formats from screenplays and novels to stage scripts. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, when she isn’t writing she works on digital media projects and other types of fiction writing. Ky currently works out of Ohio and enjoys spending her free time either playing RPGs or running with her dog.

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