San Diego Studio(SDS) announced Tuesday the introduction of a new mode, 'Road to the Show: Women Pave Their Way,' in MLB The Show 24.

Since its 2006 debut with MLB 06: The Show on PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, MLB The Show has been a favorite among baseball fans. With the introduction of cross-play in 2021, both Xbox and PlayStation players could enjoy the game, solidifying its status as the premier baseball video game. However, the developers at SDS remain driven, constantly striving to expand the game's reach and push boundaries further.

The introduction of the 'Women Pave Their Way' mode, aimed at enhancing inclusion within the MLB The Show community comes just a year after the game finally added the ‘Storylines’ feature, which follows the journeys of eight Negro League players. It was a significant step not only for the game but for all of baseball in continuing to acknowledge and honor the Negro Leagues and their important legacy.

Although the 'Women Pave Their Way' mode does not bring the significant historical aspect that ‘Storylines’ brought, it is clear SDS is focused on continuing the trend of inclusion. After unveiling the trailer for the new mode, the MLB The Show website shared the following insights:

“For the first time ever, you can create and play as a female ballplayer, with a unique Road to the Show story…where players can interact and build their own baseball career. This path will include all existing features of Road to the Show with the addition of a unique-to-women storyline following a lifelong friendship as it develops in professional baseball”

This topic has generated considerable buzz within both the sports and video game communities. Although intended to promote inclusion, it has faced backlash from those who argue that women, not currently playing in professional baseball leagues, should not be featured in the game. Despite this criticism, numerous male streamers of the game took swiftly to social media to defend and support the few women in their industry:

Many die-hard sports video game fans often have a strong fixation on keeping things the same, especially regarding the game's designs and mechanics. However, it's unreasonable to get upset over additions that do not affect the rest of the game's experience. The 'Road to the Show: Women Pave Their Way' mode is merely an addition to the game and will only broaden the MLB The Show community.

Conversely, another group of The Show's fanbase argues that the game has seen too little evolution in recent years. They point out that aspects like uniforms, stadium features, and color schemes have hardly changed, suggesting a lack of innovation. These critics aren’t necessarily opposed to including women; rather, they believe the developers should prioritize wider updates to retain the game's core audience. While these criticisms do highlight valid concerns—something for SDS to take into account—the inclusion of women in the game still represents a significant step forward and it deserves celebration throughout the community.

Video games bring dreams to life, regardless of the realism. Why should anyone be limited in living out their dreams through a game? Women deserve to fulfill their baseball fantasies in MLB The Show's 'Road to the Show' just as much as any fan. The introduction of this mode by SDS is praiseworthy, furthering the trend of inclusivity in baseball.

MLB The Show 24 will be released on March 19 for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo.