Aside from games that originated primarily on mobile platforms, other sports video simulation games that originated on consoles have almost never focused on mobile platforms, such as MLB The Show series.

There are many reasons for this, such as industry competition or technological limitations. However, with the growing influence of mobile games and their players, expanding to other platforms seems to be an inevitable trend.

Based on this, MLB The Show 25 recently revealed some big news: the game will be available on mobile platforms! Although this plan is still in the soft launch stage and has not yet been released globally, it is already very exciting.

Next, we will unlock the specific details and impact of this plan, as well as what players think about it.

What Will The Game Be Like On Mobile?

First, it's important to clarify that MLB The Show's entry into the mobile platform is not a direct port of the existing MLB 25 console content to mobile phones, but rather the development of a dedicated mobile version.

Frankly, while console games receive annual updates, the overall gameplay remains largely unchanged unless new modes are added. Therefore, the mobile version is expected to be based on the main game modes.

However, given that mobile devices cannot match consoles in terms of memory, graphics, and sound effects, the focus will likely be more on collecting and drawing player cards, while the baseball games themselves will be somewhat weakened.

While this isn't good news for players who prioritize competitive gameplay, the mobile version is designed for anytime, anywhere gaming, not to fully replicate the original game's content.

To compensate for this, the developers will add more mobile-specific features. For example, Ambush Hitting system allows you to predict the ball's trajectory by tapping specific locations on the screen, offering greater precision and ease of use than a controller.

Furthermore, the catch and pass meter will receive haptic feedback on mobile devices, and players will react faster to hits, showcasing the smooth, real-time responsiveness unique to mobile devices.

More importantly, the mobile platform will add a first-person catching perspective to Road to the Show mode, using the phone's gyroscope to control catching actions, making the game more fun and realistic.

Exclusive Optimizations

In addition to the newly added features, MLB The Show 25 development team will also design exclusive optimizations based on the limitations of the mobile, allowing the game to adapt to the new platform while gaining irreplaceable advantages.

For example, Amateur Years gameplay in Road to the Show allows you to experience a player's career through eight different teams from high school to college, using the fragmented gameplay unique to mobile devices.

In the most popular Diamond Dynasty mode, the mobile version will replace Sets and Seasons with a year-round schedule to avoid progress reset issues when collecting cards. Furthermore, Diamond Quest will also receive more diverse gameplay.

What Do Players Think?

Although the official release date for MLB The Show 25 or the subsequent 26 version on mobile has not yet been announced, this plan is already enough to make players excited and anticipate.

This means you can jump into the game anytime with an internet connection and enough battery for a simple virtual baseball game or to upgrade your players, without having to consume time in front of a console screen to do so.

However, some players are wondering: if it's playable on mobile, why isn't there a PC version? Porting the game to PC is feasible from both a hardware and software perspective; at least FC 26 is playable on PC.

While the reason is unknown, considering the profit-driven nature of businesses, perhaps it's because mobile players are more willing to conduct in-game transactions. This raises another concern: will the mobile version of MLB become a pure "gacha machine"?

These players say they want a true mobile version of MLB The Show, not a new card collection game - in fact, there are already many such games on the market, and they're quite good.

Based on this, one viewpoint suggests that MLB The Show 25's priority release on mobile over PC is an excuse for the current monotonous console gameplay and subpar graphics:

While you complain about these issues, they tell you it's a necessary compromise to cater to players on different platforms.

In short, while players are happy to see more platforms available, they seem more concerned about PC version's development progress. Although there are rumors that it's planned, it's still significantly behind the mobile version.

Cross-Platform Compatibility Is Inevitable

Regardless of your opinion or others', it's a fact that MLB The Show will one day launch a mobile version.

Given the competition from other existing mobile sports games, attracting new players from MLB 25 on mobile will inevitably face obstacles. Therefore, it's crucial to consider the experience of existing players, such as by introducing cross-platform gameplay.

This way, the progress you make in the console version and MLB The Show 25 Stubs you earn will be directly synced to your mobile game account, avoiding the hassle of creating and switching accounts.

Furthermore, cross-platform compatibility means an increased number of players online simultaneously, allowing you to find opponents and start matches much faster.

However, to avoid an unbalanced gaming environment due to hardware differences between players using different devices, the game should allow you can decide whether to enable cross-platform functionality or mixed matchmaking freely.

In general, almost every game is now available on almost more platforms, so MLB 25's decision is not surprising. The key is how to create mobile games that players will appreciate - and there's still a long way to go.