Since 2021 every entry in the MLB The Show franchise has been available in Xbox Game Pass, in most cases it was available since day one, something that is rare when it comes to sports titles.
A big part of the MLB The Show player base on Xbox came from Game Pass. The game being on Game Pass was also one of the biggest reasons its player base grew year after year and why it usually was one of the top 10 most played sports games for Xbox.
So, MLB The Show 25 is definitely coming to the Xbox Game Pass, right?
Is MLB The Show 25 Coming to Game Pass?
To the surprise of many fans, MLB The Show 25 won't be on Xbox Game Pass! This marks the first time since 2021, and the arrival of the MLB The Show franchise to the Xbox console, that an MLB The Show title won't be added to the gaming subscription service.
This is bad news for Game Pass subscribers, as MLB The Show was one of the most prestigious sports titles in the subscription and one of the few to be available on release.
It will also affect the MLB The Show 25 Xbox player base. With the title not being on Game Pass, the player base will definitely decrease compared to last year, and it might reach its lowest number of players ever.
At the same time, it's easy to understand why Sony San Diego Studio made this change. It's fantastic to attract many players to your game, but when most of them come from a subscription service, and not from buying the game, you are leaving money on the table.
So, while the Xbox player base for MLB The Show 25 will take a hit, the game might actually be more profitable for Sony San Diego Studio than its predecessors.