MLB The Show has experienced its fair share of growing pains over the last couple of years. After over a decade of PlayStation exclusivity, the annual baseball sim made the jump to Xbox and Switch in 2021, with developer San Diego Studio shaking up its popular Diamond Dynasty content in the process. MLB The Show 24 is the second entry to feature this adjusted strategy, taking notes from The Show 23 to provide an experience that pleases both fans new and old. Though it hasn't been without its swings and misses, MLB The Show 24 has managed to hit a few balls out of the park.
The first two seasons of The Show 24's Diamond Dynasty content appeared to be more of what fans experienced with The Show 23, but SDS has managed to course-correct in a big way. Season 3 of Diamond Dynasty looks to be one of The Show 24's most inventive, and the developer has made significant mid-year adjustments to its content structure, largely based on fan feedback. When coupled with its inclusion on September's list of free PS Plus titles, The Show 24 is poised to build significant momentum going into the second half of its life cycle. Timing is everything in baseball, and The Show 24 looks due for a clutch home run.
MLB The Show 24 Came to PS Plus at the Right Time
MLB The Show is no stranger to PS Plus' monthly games, as entries like The Show 19 have found their way to its catalog in the past. For MLB The Show 24, however, its inclusion in September's lineup is particularly well-timed.
The Show 24 has faced an uphill battle since the early parts of the summer, against both itself and other titles releasing in the sports genre. Though Season 1 of The Show 24's content was a reasonable success, the transition to Season 2 was not an entirely smooth one, as many players bemoaned the same issues they faced with The Show 23's content strategy. While some exemplary cards drops around the 2024 MLB All-Star Game quelled these woes, SDS also had to compete with the highly-anticipated release of College Football 25.
With the recent start of Diamond Dynasty Season 3, however, MLB The Show 24 has put itself in a strong position to succeed. Not only has SDS applied what it learned in Season 2 to Season 3, giving longtime players easier access to a greater variety of cards, but The Show 24 newcomers won't have to bear as much of the frustration that comes with a new season. This gives The Show fans of all experience levels something to be happy about, and when paired with Season 3's approach to content, now just may be the perfect time to slide head first back into Diamond Dynasty.
Now is the Best Time to Dive Into The Show 24's Diamond Dynasty
When it comes to the actual content that's available in Diamond Dynasty Season 3, SDS has delivered one of its most innovative batches of cards yet. The star of the show this time around is The Show 24's Out of Position cards, which takes iconic MLB players and shifts them to a position outside their usual skill set. Players can unlock starting pitcher Elly De La Cruz, or two-way player Mike Trout, each card entertaining the idea of a sort of alternate history for MLB's biggest names.
It's an innovative way of shaking up The Show's usual second half of Diamond Dynasty content, which often sees players locked into using high-level cards that are just slightly different from last year. Most importantly, the vast majority of the currently available Out of Position cards can be earned without spending a dollar on microtransactions, something The Show has received criticism for in recent years. It may not solve all of Diamond Dynasty's current issues, but it's a strong indication that SDS still cares deeply about making The Show the premier sports franchise on the market.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 86%
- Released
- March 19, 2024
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- San Diego Studio
- Publisher(s)
- MLB Advanced Media
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- Franchise
- MLB The Show
WHERE TO PLAY
Unlock your moment.
Own The Show. Swing for the fences, experience game-deciding moments, become a legend and live out your baseball dreams. Set out on the road to baseball greatness – whatever it is you want to achieve, MLB The Show 24 has got you covered. Earn your call up from the minors to the big leagues and prove you’ve got what it takes at the top. Learn about known and unsung legends of the sport and take inspiration from their heroics. Hold your nerve when it matters and earn the right to be called World Series champions. Chalk up the wins, pick yourself up after the losses. Whatever happens, know you left nothing in the dugout. Everyone has a moment to own. Everyone has a story to tell. Unlock your moment. Own The Show.
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Sports
