MLB The Show 21 finally to Xbox, and Microsoft confirmed on April 2 that the next installment of the long-running baseball game franchise on the Xbox Game Pass would be on launch day, April 20.
Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s video game subscription service, which can best be described as a Netflix for games. For $ 15 a month (often less for new subscribers) players get access to a library of over 100 titles spanning different genres. As MLB The Show 21 costing only $ 70 on PS5, Xbox Game Pass offers a much cheaper alternative to the next generation version of the baseball simulator.
This is an unexpected move from Sony, which has long held its first party IP exclusively for its PlayStation consoles. So does that mean we can see more Sony games on Xbox hardware in the future? We spoke to two industry analysts and representatives from Sony and Microsoft to gain a broader understanding of how this unprecedented agreement came about and what it could mean for games in the coming months and years.
Why is MLB The Show 21 on Game Pass?
According to PlayStation, the decision to bring MLB The Show 21 to more platforms and Game Pass came directly from MLB.
“As part of the goal for this year’s game, MLB has decided to bring the franchise to more players and baseball fans,” said a PlayStation representative. Reverse. “This decision provides a unique opportunity to further establish MLB The Show as the leading brand for baseball video games. ”
Sony Interactive Entertainment Agreed to Support More Platforms Renewal of MLB Licensing Agreement late in 2019. It looks like MLB has gone further to get as many players as possible.
Omdia chief analyst George Jijiashvili says Reverse this step is mainly about expanding the range of the series. “It’s about MLB finding a larger audience, which is preferred over console manufacturers,” he explains.
The research director of Ampere, Piers Harding-Rolls, sees this as a practical step by MLB. “From MLB’s point of view, it makes commercial sense because it opens up content to a lot more players, especially in the US, but also makes the established studio work on the game,” Harding-Rolls explains.
“I’m sure [MLB] looked at monetization in other gaming franchises such as Madden and FIFA with interest and in this case think of reaching the audience rather than premium sales.
According to Ampere’s comments, Xbox Game Pass now has more than 18 million subscribers. As such, it makes a lot of sense that MLB would consider it an attractive opportunity.
Jijiashvili described the move as a “conscious decision” by Microsoft to “put the cat among the pigeons”. This deal shows how big the Xbox Game Pass is for multiplatform titles, as $ 15 a month is cheaper in the short term than $ 70. In turn, Xbox is starting to become the essential platform for this Sony title.
Asked about this agreement, an Xbox representative reiterated that “we are building the library with the diversity of our 18 million members in mind” and that they are looking forward to more new games in the future for the first day of titles. to bring our members’ as Halo Infinite.
MLB did not respond to a request for comment Reverse‘s request for comment.
Why are AAA games coming after the launch of Game Pass?
Not in April 2021, Outdoors and MLB The Show 21 – both AAA games from non-Microsoft developers – launched on Xbox Game Pass one day. These important versions seem to contradict the notion that games will not make as much profit on a subscription service. So what prompted publishers to change their minds?
‘For some titles, the launch of the first day in Game Pass is an increasingly risk-averse strategy: it ensures a down payment, provides a relevant audience of more than 18 million subscribers who can still earn money from spending in the game, and there is the flexibility to remove the title to increase premium sales later, if necessary, ”says Harding-Rolls.
“Titles that do not have the highest quality in sales volumes, or that are based on a new IP – that is, they do not have an established audience – can be good candidates for the first issue of the first day,” he adds.
Harding-Rolls points out that Game Pass’s attractiveness to publishers depends on Microsoft’s willingness to spend the necessary money to close these deals. Harding-Rolls believes Microsoft has paid a hefty fee MLB The Show 21 to sweeten the deal for MLB and Sony.
“From Microsoft’s perspective, it’s worth paying even a substantial amount to secure the game upon release,” he explains. Microsoft does not think of short-term profitability as it continues its aggressive path of acquiring content and subscribers for Game Pass. Competitively, the optics of this step are strong, and it keeps the Game Pass momentum going. ”
Are more PlayStation games coming to Game Pass?
MLB The Show 21 is an excellent example of Microsoft’s deep commitment to Game Pass, even though it’s the only Sony-released game to ever hit the service. According to analysts, this does not mean that fans expect to see more Sony games to Xbox consoles or Game Pass.
“This development is unlikely to have any tangible consequences for future Sony exclusives,” Jijiashvili claims. “I believe it was a unique case, where the licensee of Sony forced a hand.”
Harding-Rolls comes to a similar conclusion, saying, “I do not expect Sony to make a habit of it, no.” Yet the release of MLB The Show 21 is a groundbreaking moment as a Sony game comes to Xbox Game Pass for the first time.
MLB The Show 21 will be released on April 20 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X | S released.