Analyzing MLB The Show 25's New Approach to Online Rewards

During the Multiplayer Program Feature Premiere, SDS unveiled a new approach to online rewards. The Multiplayer Program itself combines the individual programs we've seen in prior years. Ranked Seasons and Battle Royale had their own respective programs, which required players to invest time in the mode to earn the program rewards.

The all-encompassing program structure essentially combines these once separate programs. In essence, you can still earn what would have been earnable in the Battle Royale program by playing other online modes.

The tone of the stream seemed to indicate that SDS wasn't looking to reduce overall rewards. I think that may be one of the main fears in play here. If there's less programs, it seems reasonable for folks to be worried that there will be less rewards. However, SDS stated this isn't the case.

Moving the Goal Posts

A fairly sizable change that seems to be getting lost in the discussion is the fact that it's now easier to earn the World Series and Battle Royale rewards. Last year, we got the BR change implemented when the Flawless rewards became earnable at 10-0 instead of the traditional 12-0. Two might be a relatively small number, but when it comes to sweaty wins, that's a huge reduction in stressful innings you have to play before potentially earning the reward.

This year, Ranked Seasons is also getting the threshold lowered. The World Series Choice Pack is now earned at 800 rating as opposed to the traditional 900 rating. This is an even bigger change as the climb from 800 to 900 could require a handful of wins just to get to 900 - and that's if you don't lose along the way.

Not only that, but the 800 division (now World Series) will be played on Hall of Fame. That means players can avoid Legend and still make World Series. That's pretty huge if you ask me. The combination of hitting World Series much sooner in addition to avoiding Legend difficulty should make it easier for more people to reach World Series.

That doesn't mean everyone will suddenly be able to do it. SDS stated that a miniscule number of players actually make World Series, so this lowering of the threshold is a positive across the board.

I Want It Now

There's valid discussion across the community on the removal of earnable choice packs within the individual programs. Previously, you could earn a free World Series and/or Battle Royale Flawless pack by completing missions within each respective program. Those packs will not be seen in the Multiplayer 1 Program, but SDS stated that Rewind packs will hit the game within the next content drop.

This is where people are getting a little bent out of shape. Instead of being able to feasibly earn both rewards from each respective pack, players will now have to wait several weeks to a month to earn the second in a Rewind pack.

I think it's understandable that folks don't like this, but I feel like this is an example of SDS nailing the balance.

The fact that we'll still get these choice packs means you're still getting a "free" card just for playing the game. Sure, if you don't have the ability to make World Series or go Flawless then it doesn't do anything for you in the short-term. But there's been zero incentive to grind online modes since everyone got the cards just for playing the programs.

I hate the idea of cards being locked behind paywalls, but I also hate the idea that skilled players don't really get anything for being skilled. With the power creep returning, Ranked and BR rewards SHOULD be some of the best available cards in the game. Skilled players that are able to successfully navigate the online sphere should be rewarded for their time and skill.

1,000 Rating Club

The addition of G.O.A.T. mode is already exciting as it's a completely new difficulty. Whether you played on Legend or not, a new challenge like an extreme difficulty is innovation. I've often lamented the lack of innovation in The Show, so I'm happy to give SDS props when they break the mold.

The 1,000 rating threshold in Ranked also rewards players with exclusive, golden animated card art versions of the World Series rewards. Highly skilled players can not only earn both World Series rewards, but they get some extra bling to show off for their time. I think this is amazing and that's coming from someone that will probably never sniff 1,000. Not every feature is going to appeal to every single player.

This is incentive to play! A new difficulty with exclusive rewards SHOULD have something unique, otherwise it doesn't mean anything. The last couple years completely diluted the online rewards to the point that there was really no reason to grind Ranked. Everyone had 99 overall cards all over the field and could just earn the rewards from programs.

Having an actual skill threshold is imperative for any competitive online suite. MLB The Show 25 is finally delivering that.

Closing Thoughts

The sting for no money spent players isn't lost on me. That's the category I trend more toward as I don't really spend much on Stubs outside of cracking packs around launch night. At least once a year, we see some of our favorite and most desired players in these online reward choice packs and that can make it harder to acquire and use them. This also leads to players having one less avenue of making Stubs.

I get it. However, the last two years really catered to casual online players while sacrificing genuine competitive flair. Again, I'm decent at the game but you'll probably never see me sweating in the 1,000 division. SDS could have simply made the program changes and moved on. Instead, they made it easier to earn the actual rewards from playing the modes.

Isn't playing the game to earn rewards the whole point?

What are your thoughts on the upcoming changes to online rewards?