For the second consecutive year, the Xbox versions of the game are available for Xbox Game Pass subscribers at no additional cost.[3] People who purchased the MVP or Digital Deluxe editions received early access to the game starting April 1.[4]
It marked one of the first MLB The Show games without any competitors in the United States, either simulation or arcade, as the R.B.I. Baseball series ended due to the Switch getting a port, although in Japan, the sole competitor is the latest entry in Konami's Power Pros series, eBaseball Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2022.
Updates
The Stadium Creator received updates to be dynamic, though it is not on the 8th generation systems (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
MLB The Show 22 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to Metacritic.[7][8][9]
GameSpot gave the game 7/10, praising the gameplay and expansion to various game modes but criticized the lack of innovation elsewhere and repetitive commentary.[6] In its 4/5 review, GamesRadar+ similarly complimented the addition to the March to October mode but lamented the limited additions otherwise, saying: "Gripes aside, MLB The Show 22 remains a fun, authentic and comprehensive simulation, among the industry's best. Ignoring the surrounding marketplace pressure to reiterate and innovate, Sony's series sits alongside NBA 2K as the premier pro sports offering."[11] In its 7/10 review, IGN wrote, "MLB The Show 22 is mostly a retread of an already great game, but more bugs than usual and the not quite ready for primetime co-op mode are signs this series may be losing some velocity."[14]Game Informer noted that while MLB The Show 22's core gameplay was solid, it was becoming stale. The site also criticized the game's technical issues, writing, "A week after launch, MLB The Show 22's online performance is shaky...Online stability continues to be a huge hole...While the new Switch iteration offers all the content of the PlayStation and Xbox versions, it suffers from framerate stuttering and significant graphical flickering." Push Square and Shacknews praised the gameplay, seasons, co-op, and streamlined format while panning the unimproved visuals, aging game modes, and repetitive commentary. Several review outlets noted that while the Switch version suffered from major technical issues such as framerate stutters and scaled back visuals, it was still playable and fun.[17][10][16][19]
