MLB The Show 21 has just released a video that confirms the existence of several special editions. The upcoming title features legendary ballplayer Jackie Robinson as the edition's cover star.
The popular Major League Baseball sim has been exclusive to PlayStation consoles since its inception in 2014. However, in a surprising move, Sony is bringing its exclusive game to Microsoft systems, as MLB The Show 21 will be available on Xbox in just a few month's time.
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The MLB The Show 21 trailer, posted to YouTube, begins with a jarring visual of seeing the Xbox and PlayStation logos back-to-back, a topic dominating the video's comments. The clip features excerpts of Jackie Robinson's famous essay "Free Minds and Hearts at Work," narrated by fellow distinguished African-American MLB player Ken Griffey Jr. The powerful words are backdropped by an assortment of footage featuring 42, showcasing Robinson's days on the field as well as his social activism, for which he was a heavy proponent of. The back half of the video transitions to show the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars Program, which offers scholarships to students of color. The announcement ends with PlayStation's pledge to donate $1 for every collector's edition sold to the program.
While all three collector's editions feature the now-current and last-gen versions (which should prove useful given its cross-play, cross-progression feature) players might get a little confused as to what differentiates them all. The regular Jackie Robinson Edition includes various card packs, along with stubs and a steelbook. The Digital Deluxe Edition tacks on several extra packs in place of anything physical, but is the same price point as the physical deluxe edition. The Jackie Robinson Deluxe Edition features everything the regular one has, along with a New Era cap and a few other exclusive goodies. The regular collector's edition goes for $84.99, while both deluxe versions retail for $99.99.
Conversely, gamers can also go for the regular version of the game for the standard price of each platform, although the Jackie Robinson edition comes with four-day early access. The standard edition's cover, which features Pittsburgh Pirates star Fernando Tatis Jr. as the cover star, was the first leak teasing an Xbox release. While fake cover art circulates fairly commonly, the validity of the franchise finally ending its PlayStation exclusivity can be seen as a good sign. The two industry giants' relationship seems as amicable as ever, coming a long way from the height of the "console wars" from roughly a decade prior.
MLB The Show 21 is sure to be a massive hit, essentially doubling its potential player base. However, there are plenty of sports fans out there who prefer faster-paced sports, even if it's a series that hasn't been available to everyone. Speaking of series that haven't been available, college football fans rejoice, as EA Sports is bringing back College Football.
MLB The Show 21 releases April 20, 2021 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.