Gaming engines are the backbone of every video game. Be it mobile, PC, or console, a strong game engine defines every aspect of the game. That said, for a long time, fans have been complaining about the engine used to create MLB The Show. And with the release of MLB The Show 25, fans have been left wondering if San Diego Studios has finally changed its game engine.

So, in this article, we’ll be talking about the game engine used for MLB The Show 25. Moreover, the changes it brings and the community feedback.

MLB The Show 25’s Game Engine

MLB The Show 25 uses the same custom-built game engine, specific to the series. Rather than relying on third-party gaming engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, MLB The Show 25 has followed suit and uses its same old engine. The company has used this game engine ever since the first iteration of MLB The Show, which was released back in ‘06 — although they have updated it to be viable according to today’s standards.

This decision has both pros and cons: SDS has received backlash for the lack of visual updates compared to the other games that use third-party game engines. However, the flip side is that MLB The Show has remained a cross-platform game throughout the years. That said, let’s take a look at how using a custom engine has affected MLB The Show 25.

Benefits Of Using The Custom Engine

• Since it’s SDS’s engine, it can be individually tailored to better suit a baseball game such as MLB The Show. This leads to highly accurate physics and realistic player movements, not to mention more suitable NPC behavior.
• It also allows for cross-platform gameplay. While Unreal Engine 5 is currently the fastest game engine, many older-gen consoles are unable to run it. With the custom engine, MLB The Show 25 can be played on multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch.
• Finally, it gives SDS complete control over customization and features. San Diego Studios doesn’t need to wait for new features to be released on third-party engines. Instead, they can develop those features on their proprietary technology. This allows seamless updates and quick fixes between seasons.

The Downside Of Using A Custom Engine

• The development cost is higher than that of a commercial game engine since every aspect must be tested before release. This slows down upgrades like graphic quality and visuals, adding to fans’ frustration.
• The prospect of becoming outdated is also quite high. Custom engines can quickly become outdated if they aren’t focused on consistently. Since quality-of-life updates need to be made promptly, this is a huge downside.
• Custom engines have no cross-game potential. The custom engine used for the MLB The Show series cannot be used for any other game except baseball. This decreases the scope of its use for other purposes. In comparison, EA’s Frostbite game engine is used for a plethora of games, making it more versatile.

Community Backlash And The Reason Behind It

It’s not hard to see that some people aren’t happy about the same custom engine utilized for MLB The Show 25. Since SDS is releasing the game for Nintendo Switch as well, the graphics and physics have to be downgraded to accommodate that platform. Consequently, fans were quick to point out that many other “current-gen games” boast much better visuals.

In simpler terms, if you’re making a game for an older console, you won’t unlock the newer console’s full potential. This is something that the MLB The Show series has struggled with. With competitors like Madden and NBA 2K being quicker to adapt, it puts things in perspective.

With scaled-down hardware to accommodate the Switch, fans have been disappointed with certain aspects of The Show during these past couple of cycles. That said, for the time being, we do not see SDS changing its game engine.