Is MLB The Show 25 Losing Its Edge with an Outdated Engine?

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As MLB The Show 25 hits the shelves, the annual excitement that surrounds the beloved baseball franchise is once again met with anticipation and critical discussion.Please visit https://www.u4gm.com/mlb-the-show-25-stubs. While new content and gameplay features have drawn praise, the game engine that powers the experience has come under renewed scrutiny. For many in the community, the engine controversy is no longer a minor complaint but a major sticking point that threatens to erode the series’ long-standing reputation.

The core of the issue lies in the engine’s perceived lack of adaptability. While MLB The Show has consistently delivered a faithful representation of America’s pastime, the same fundamental engine has been used, with incremental tweaks, for many years. This has allowed the developers to maintain a sense of consistency but has also led to technical stagnation.

Players are noticing. Glitches, awkward animations, and outdated collision systems persist. While these may seem like minor issues in isolation, together they create a gameplay experience that feels increasingly behind the curve. The realism expected from modern sports simulations simply isn’t always reflected in MLB The Show 25’s gameplay. Sliding animations sometimes feel robotic, base-running AI remains hit-or-miss, and throwing mechanics can be inconsistent. These aren’t just bugs—they’re symptoms of a deeper problem rooted in the game’s aging foundation.

Visuals have also become a point of contention. While MLB The Show 25 is certainly not an ugly game—player models, stadiums, and lighting effects remain impressive—many fans argue that there has not been a significant graphical leap since the series made its next-gen debut. Comparisons with other sports titles, such as the latest installments of FIFA or NBA 2K, highlight the contrast in engine evolution and graphical fidelity.

Another area of concern is the lack of dynamic gameplay physics. In a sport defined by subtle movements, ball trajectory, and precision, many feel the engine still relies too heavily on canned animations and scripted outcomes. The result is a game that, while fun, can feel predictable and sometimes detached from the organic nature of real baseball. The lack of procedural animation or real-time physics modeling puts MLB The Show at a disadvantage when compared to innovations seen in other franchises.

Compounding the issue is the franchise’s tight development cycle. Annual releases mean the development team has little time to implement major systemic overhauls. However, critics argue that it’s time for San Diego Studio to take the bold step of building a new engine or undertaking a substantial rework. Without this, even exciting features like Storylines or deeper franchise tools may feel like they’re built on shaky ground.

To their credit, the developers remain engaged with the community, releasing patches and updates to address gameplay issues. But the bigger question looms: can the current engine keep up with the evolving expectations of players in 2025 and beyond?

Some fans have called for the series to take a year off, much like other franchises have done, to retool and reimagine the foundation of the game. While this would be a risky move, it might be necessary to ensure long-term quality and innovation.

Until such changes happen, MLB The Show 25 may continue to impress on the surface but frustrate those who look closer. The engine that once powered the series to greatness may now be the very thing holding it back.