Fans scream your name, opponents curse it.
The sweat, the tears, the heartbreak and the glory. It’s all waiting for you on the diamond.
Step up to the plate… stare ’em down.
Bases are loaded. The duel can only have one winner and it’s going to be you.
It’s time to change the unwritten rules… own The Show.
Let’s go, superstar. Be the ballplayer that makes the difference.
Visit PlayStation™Store to pick up your choice of Stubs packs for MLB® The Show™ 21.
This virtual currency can be used for all in-game buys.
You can also earn Stubs through gameplay.
To access your Stubs, visit The Show Shop from within the My Profile menu.
Tailor your MLB® The Show™ 21 experience with a range of customizable accessibility settings designed to suit your personal playstyle.
Include closed captions for all in-game commentary speech.
Pick your plate coverage indicator for aiming your shots when batting.
Explore various camera settings that offer subtle zoom in / zoom out viewpoints.
Activate the ball trail that indicates areas the ball is being pitched or hit.
Assisted controls help you play the game with minimal or less complex button input – including auto fielding, throwing and baserunning; and one-button pitching and batting.
Hitting controls – directional interface
| Normal swing | button |
| Contact swing | button |
| Power swing | button |
| Sacrifice bunt | button (press early and hold) |
| Drag bunt | button (press late, timed to the pitch) |
| Influence fly ball / ground ball | left stick / |
| Influence left / right side | left stick / |
| Influence bunt 3rd or 1st | left stick / |
| Bunt into ground | left stick / / |
| Check swing | , , , or button (lightly tap) |
Hitting controls – pure analog interface
| Normal swing | right stick |
| Contact swing | right stick / |
| Power swing | right stick , then right stick |
| Cover Direction in Zone | right stick / |
| Sacrifice bunt | button (press early and hold) |
| Drag bunt | button (press late, timed to the pitch) |
| Check swing | flick and release right stick |
Hitting Controls – zone interface
| Normal swing | button |
| Contact swing | button |
| Power swing | button |
| Sacrifice bunt | button (press early and hold) |
| Drag bunt | button (press late, timed to the pitch) |
| Aim the Plate Coverage Indicator | left stick |
| Check swing | , , , or button (lightly tap) |
Batting – pre-pitch bunt influence
| Influence a Drag Bunt | right stick / |
| Cancel Current Influence | right stick |
Batting misc.
| Guess pitch type | button + , , , , buttons |
| Guess pitch location | button + left stick |
| View defensive positioning and ratings | button |
| Quick menu (excluding player lock) | directional button |
| Pitcher attributes / Player quirks | directional button |
| Pitcher / Batter matchup breakdown | directional button |
| Call timeout (before wind-up) | directional button |
| Control the camera | right stick |
Pitching controls – pinpoint interface
| Pitchout | button + button |
| Intentional walk | button + button |
| Pitch type 1 | button |
| Pitch type 2 | button |
| Pitch type 3 | button |
| Pitch type 4 | button |
| Pitch type 5 | button |
Pitching controls – pulse interface
| Pitchout | button + button |
| Intentional walk | button + button |
| Pitch type 1 | button |
| Pitch type 2 | button |
| Pitch type 3 | button |
| Pitch type 4 | button |
| Pitch type 5 | button |
Pitching controls – meter interface
| Pitchout | button + button |
| Intentional walk | button + button |
| Pitch type 1 | button |
| Pitch type 2 | button |
| Pitch type 3 | button |
| Pitch type 4 | button |
| Pitch type 5 | button |
Pitching controls – classic interface
| Pitchout | button + button |
| Intentional walk | button + button |
| Pitch type 1 | button |
| Pitch type 2 | button |
| Pitch type 3 | button |
| Pitch type 4 | button |
| Pitch type 5 | button |
Pitching controls – pure analog interface
| Pitchout | button + button |
| Intentional walk | button + button |
| Pitch type 1 | button |
| Pitch type 2 | button |
| Pitch type 3 | button |
| Pitch type 4 | button |
| Pitch type 5 | button |
Pitching misc.
| Look at runner | button |
| Request catcher’s pitch call | button |
| Pitch ball | button |
| Quick pickoff move | button + , , button (tap) |
| Deceptive pickoff move | button + , , button (hold) |
| Slide step (with runners on base) | button + button |
| Pickoff to 1st | button + button |
| Pickoff to 2nd | button + button |
| Pickoff to 3rd | button + button |
| Step off mound (after selecting pitch) | button |
| Aim ball in the zone | left stick |
Discover insider gameplay tips here.
Throwing controls – button and button accuracy interfaces
| Move player | left stick |
| Jump / Dive | right stick |
| Throw to cutoff | button |
| Switch to closest player (without ball) | button |
| Jump | button or right stick / |
| Dive | button or right stick / |
| Throw to 1st | button |
| Throw to 2nd | button |
| Throw to 3rd | button |
| Throw home | button |
Throwing controls – pure analog interface
| Move player | left stick |
| Switch to closest player (without ball) | button |
| Jump | button |
| Dive | button |
| Throw to 1st | right stick |
| Throw to 2nd | right stick |
| Throw to 3rd | right stick |
| Throw home | right stick |
Default baserunning
| Target runner | left stick |
| Advance / Return individual runner | left stick + + + + button |
| Lead off with individual runner | left stick + button |
| Lead off / Advance all | button |
| Steal with individual runner | left stick + button |
| Steal with all runners | button |
| Steal early | button (hold and release before pitch) |
| Return an individual runner / reduce lead | left stick + button |
| Return all runners / reduce leads | button |
| Stop runner(s) | button |
Classic baserunning
| Advance all | button |
| Return all runners / reduce leads | button |
| Stop runner(s) | button |
| 2nd to 3rd | button + directional button |
| 2nd to home | button + directional button |
| 3rd to home | button + directional button |
| 1st to 2nd | button + directional button |
| 1st to 3rd | button + directional button |
| 1st to home | button + directional button |
Classic baserunning – leading off and stealing
| Queue a steal of 2nd | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Queue a steal of 3rd | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Queue a steal of home | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Manual steal timing | button (hold and release) |
| Leadoff from 2nd | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Retreat to 2nd | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Leadoff from 3rd | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Retreat to 3rd | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Leadoff from 1st | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Retreat to 1st | button (hold) + button (tap) |
| Advance all runners’ leads | button |
| Retreat all runners’ leads | button |
| Queue steals for all runners | button |
| Cancel all queued steals | button |
Slides at home
| Straight in feet-first | right stick |
| Straight in headfirst | right stick |
| Wide right feet-first | right stick |
| Wide right headfirst | right stick |
| Wide left feet-first | right stick |
| Wide left headfirst | right stick |
Slides at bases
| Straight in feet-first | right stick |
| Straight in headfirst | right stick |
| Hook to the left | right stick |
| Hook to the right | right stick |
| Break up a double play at 2nd | right stick |
Discover insider gameplay tips here.
CROSS-PLAY AND CROSS PROGRESSION
Compete with your friends playing on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 consoles through cross-play. You can even take on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players! Follow prompts to create and link your The Show account to enable cross-play – this also means you keep all your earned content no matter which console you play on.
TAILORED DIFFICULTY
Pinpoint pitching gives veteran players unparalleled control on the mound. Master this new mechanic to make your pitches more effective and precise. There are also several fresh features for newer players, including an overhaul to beginner mode and assisted controls.
PROJECTED FRANCHISE DEPTH CHARTS
Peek into a crystal ball to see what your Franchise roster might look like years down the line!
Through development projects and contract information, the new charts can give you invaluable insight to what the future may hold.
DIAMOND DYNASTY: SLEEK AND STREAMLINED
You can now quickly view where and how any card in the game can be attained – and check all your goals and rewards in the improved Featured Programs option. There are also lots more rewards available, including new Legends, Flashbacks, Stadium Props, Archetypes, Stubs, Packs, and more – which can be earned faster than ever. And Diamond Dynasty also now features 26-man rosters to match the latest changes to Major League Baseball roster rules.
COMMUNITY PARALLELS
An all-new way to rep your favourites and play the game your way. Every player card in the game is eligible for multiple boost tiers, unlocked by using a card often, and performing well.
LET YOUR PLAYER SHINE
For the first time, you can take your Road to The Show player into Diamond Dynasty, Programs, and Moments!
The ultimate fantasy Baseball experience! Create your own dream team of real world stars, Legends and Flashback players spanning over 100 years of baseball history. Collect their personal baseball card from The Show Packs to build your 26-man squad, and then compete against online rivals, or go it alone in offline single player mode.
Learn all about the different ways to play Diamond Dynasty here.
*Requires PlayStation®Plus subscription. Learn more about PlayStation®Plus here.
Embark on your very own baseball journey. Starting off as a fresh young prospect, you will grow and improve your custom-created ballplayer and compete for baseball greatness along the way.
This year, you can turn your Road to The Show ballplayer into the ultimate two-way superstar – gaining new skills through gameplay and off-day workouts as you plan your future in the sport.
Pitcher? Batter? Both? It’s your call. As you collect XP, you will earn items and Perks that can boost your stats with nearly unlimited customization options.
And you can now also take your ballplayer online, for the first time ever! Just add your superstar to your online Diamond Dynasty roster and let them loose on the world.
Learn more about Road to The Show here.
Put your Baseball knowledge to the test by taking control of your favourite team and guiding them to victory!
You call the shots on all aspects of management, from drafting and training players to signing free agents, hiring new staff, and managing your budget.
But running an MLB franchise is no easy job!
There are many factors under your supervision: balancing the team budget, maintaining player morale, signing new players, keeping up with your GM goals, and more.
When creating a franchise, you can distribute tasks between yourself and your staff by setting them to Auto or Manual. Tasks can easily be reassigned at any time.
Learn more about Franchise here.
MARCH TO OCTOBER
Experience the most exciting moments of your favourite MLB team’s season in unique game episodes. Quickly go from one game to the next to take your team to the Postseason™ and beyond.
CUSTOM LEAGUES*
Play flexible season formats against friends or rivals with fully customizable rules and options.
PLAY NOW DAILY ROSTERS
Play a game from the MLB schedule using up-to-the-moment lineups loaded directly from MLB.com.
PLAY NOW ONLINE RATED*
Play online matches using MLB rosters and see how you rank against the best players around the world.
MOMENTS
Experience the game’s most historic moments first-hand, or pit your favourite players against Hall of Fame legends. Check back regularly for new Moments.
CUSTOM PRACTICE
Practice your batting and pitching skills to become the best player you can be.
POSTSEASON™
Build your fantasy Postseason™ bracket and compete for the World Series title.
OPTIONS EXPLORER
Looking to improve your skills? Want to try the control scheme your favourite streamer recommends? Check out Options Explorer to sample different gameplay options.
HOME RUN DERBY®
In this mode (available online* or offline), you are pitted against up to seven other players to hit as many home runs as you can within the time limit. Whoever hits the most homers advances to the next round.
*Requires PlayStation®Plus subscription. Learn more about PlayStation®Plus here.
Join the MLB® The Show™ 21 community to connect with players and fans around the world in online forums – and uncover all the latest info through MLB The Show Scouting Report.
Check out the community here.
By using this software, you agree to the licence terms. Our full licence terms can be read here: www.playstation.com/legal/software-usage-terms/. Here are some of the highlights: