MLB The Show 21 launching into Xbox Game Pass was reportedly MLB's decision, not Sony's
A Sony representative claims it was MLB's decision.
What you need to know
- MLB The Show 21 is the next-gen entry in a franchise that has historically been exclusive to PlayStation.
- Recently, it was revealed that the first-party PlayStation title was launching on Xbox and PlayStation at the same time.
- Even more shocking was the news that MLB The Show 21 would also come to Xbox Game Pass day and date.
- According to a new report, the decision to bring MLB The Show 21 to Xbox was solely MLB's decision, and not Sony's.
Xbox Game Pass is hurdling from one victory to another in recent months, and recently announced that the long-time Sony-developed franchise MLB The Show is not only launching on Xbox and PlayStation, but MLB The Show 21 is also launching into Xbox Game Pass day and date. MLB The Show 21 launching on Xbox as a first-party Sony title is already a huge deal, but its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass is almost mind boggling. It appears that the decision to bring MLB The Show 21 to Xbox likely wasn't Sony's decision, according to a report from Inverse.
When the news that MLB The Show 21 was launching on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass broke, many gamers speculated that this might signal the beginning of the end for Sony's decades-long approach to games exclusivity. However, these speculations have been shattered by a PlayStation representative that spoke to Inverse, and confirmed what a few of us already believed: MLB The Show 21 is heading to Xbox because of MLB, not Sony.
MLB made the decision to have Sony bring MLB The Show 21 to other platforms in an effort to expand the franchise to more players and, therefore, more revenue. Launching MLB The Show 21 on Xbox Game Pass further accomplishes this goal, as it introduces a new franchise (for Xbox) to over 18 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
Between Outriders and MLB The Show 21, Xbox Game Pass is truly crushing it with the value prospect. After all, Xbox players will be able to play MLB The Show 21 and hundreds of other high-quality titles for as much as $15 a month, while PlayStation players have to pay as much as $70 just to play MLB The Show 21.
MLB The Show 21 launches on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 on April 20, 2021. You can also play MLB The Show 21 through Xbox Game Pass, making it one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass for sports fans.
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Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.