Gameplay Changes for MLB the Show '24
Pinpoint pitching gets some small tweaks in an otherwise minor update.
This morning, TheShow.com officially announced gameplay changes for this year’s game, most notably updates to pinpoint pitching that will likely require at least a small learning curve.
Otherwise, the changes were mostly cosmetic. From TheShow.com:
· New Animations: Roughly 400 new animations and logic improvements meticulously address any remaining areas needing attention focusing on fielder urgency.
· New Throws: Added a variety of new 1B throws from the ground to all bases, that enable 1B to efficiently make throws from all overstretch scenarios.
· Pitcher Animations: To combat the new disengagement rule, additional animations will allow pitchers to step off to fake throw and potentially nab the runner trying to take advantage of the third disengagement.
· Base Sizes: Fans will also notice the new base sizes in ’24, and of course we’ve captured new logic and tag animations to account for the extra coverage needed.
The gameplay in MLB the Show ’23 was largely applauded so there was not expected to be any major shifts, especially with the game remaining available on older-gen consoles for at least another year. Hitting will stay the same.
The two biggest changes both deal with pitching, in particular pinpoint. (A quick spoiler from my upcoming book: All the top players use pinpoint, so if you use any other method, it is time to switch.)
So what are the pitching changes?
First, breaking balls will be a little more accurate. Without getting too nerdy, the location of every perfect pitch ends up hitting the PAR, or Perfect Accuracy Region. In ’23, breaking pitches would just need to touch a part of the PAR, so even a perfect pitch could end up in a different area than you intended. In ’24, a larger part of the ball must hit the PAR, improving accuracy and hopefully leading to fewer hangers.
The other change is pitching inputs for pinpoint. Most importantly, the sinker (MLB the Show’s meta pitch) gets a new and more complicated delivery. That may make it harder to throw the pitch accurately, at least until people get the hang of it. Lefties will also get some inputs that match their throwing side, adding yet another wrinkle. (Video grab from @ancelarmstrong_)
What do you think of these changes? What else needs an update?
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