Exploring the Lack of Baseball Games on the Xbox One

[RaychelSnr]

<small>R.B.I. Baseball 16.</small>

It has been over two years since the Xbox One first hit the market, and the console has sported a disappointingly low number of baseball games in that time.

In fact, there has only been two notable series to mention so far. Firstly, the resurgence of RBI Baseball has been in effect for almost three years now, offering a casual take on the sport with real MLB licensing. Unfortunately, it has been met with a mediocre reception throughout the majority of its lifespan. The third iteration is set to release on March 29, and MLB's Advanced Media division will be hopeful it fares better this time around.

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[spoofrice11]

Disappointing that EA has gotten back in to the baseball market.
I know a lot of people were hoping that 2K would give up the license when they had it and EA would then start putting out games again. Hopefully EA eventually decide to, because MVP Baseball 2005 was an amazing game that I played for years after it came out.

[redsox4evur]

Re: Exploring the Lack of Baseball Games on the Xbox One

Disappointing that EA has gotten back in to the baseball market.
I know a lot of people were hoping that 2K would give up the license when they had it and EA would then start putting out games again. Hopefully EA eventually decide to, because MVP Baseball 2005 was an amazing game that I played for years after it came out.

EA could still make a baseball game when 2K had the license...they just didn't want to be it wouldn't make a lot of money. From my recollection 2K never had an exclusive license.

[snc237]

If I was EA I literally would use the same game engine from MVP baseball. Then just redo the graphics. With the help of the ignite engine the stadium atmosphere is already done (crowd animation). The thing is they can't start from scratch or they will more then likely be in a NBA live type of situation. At least they would have a console all to themselves.

[Will I Am]

Re: Exploring the Lack of Baseball Games on the Xbox One

2K did indeed have an exclusive license for 3rd party game makers.

[bfindeisen]

I want a PC game again. Let's bring back the High Heat series!

[shogunofharlem3]

Re: Exploring the Lack of Baseball Games on the Xbox One

I'd love to see Xbox at least give us MLB 2k13 on the backwards compatibility list. If you haven't played it in the recent years may I recommend picking it up and using the community rosters with edits that have been kept updated.

Gameplay is straight up amazing! If it was backwards compat it would at least be a sim option and you could upload the communinty rosters assuming you kept your 360.

[mcmax3000]

EA could still make a baseball game when 2K had the license...they just didn't want to be it wouldn't make a lot of money. From my recollection 2K never had an exclusive license.

2K had an exclusive third party license, so Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo could've made a baseball game (and obviously Sony did), but no third party companies could.

[LosCriminales]

Just FYI, Microsoft bought the High Heat assets when 3DO dissolved. They killed it. Basically the MLB sports games make zero money and no return on investment. Hence the half-assed ness of MLB doing these games, and EA not interested. Sony feels that because they have an exclusive that people will buy the game/console because of this, but I doubt it's moving many Vitas - especially since it's just the same game with new rosters.

I agree it's pathetic that we have a lacrosse game on the XB1 but no baseball. I will say that Super Mega Baseball is very enjoyable, however.

[SamitSarkar]

Re: Exploring the Lack of Baseball Games on the Xbox One

EA could still make a baseball game when 2K had the license...they just didn't want to be it wouldn't make a lot of money. From my recollection 2K never had an exclusive license.

Not to well, actually... you, but: 2K Sports signed an exclusive contract with MLB for the MLB 2K series shortly after EA signed its exclusive deal with the NFL for Madden. Unlike the Madden contract, 2K Sports' licensing agreement only applied to third-party publishers (such as 2K and EA), not first-party publishers (i.e., the publishing arms of the platform holders -- Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo).

So 2K was the only third-party publisher that could make an MLB-licensed video game; that's why EA tried its college baseball series for two years after MVP Baseball 2005 (and then gave up). It's also why Sony, as a first-party publisher, has been able to make its MLB The Show series for the past decade.

2K's exclusive agreement expired at the end of 2012; the company renewed it just for 2013 so it could crap out MLB 2K13, and that was it.

[BBallcoach]

I've been saying this for years, but Microsoft needs to bring back Inside Pitch. While it wasn't the greatest game ever, the 2 (3?) games they made were solid foundations. Reasons like that are why I recently traded in my XB1 for a PS4. I can get all the cross platform sports games and then the show and hot shots. Since most XB1 exclusives come to PC now. I'm all set.

[Yantropov]

I owned the first two generations of Xbox. I decided to make the switch mostly after trying Mlb the Show 13. Let me tell you that I don't regret switching to PS4, I love baseball games and I was purchasing MLB 2k years after years... I hope Xbox eventually get a baseball game back.

[NINJAK2]

I'm surprised the MLB hasn't just asked the show to become their official baseball game and ask them to make it for x1 and pc...Well that's been my dream..lol

[redsox4evur]

Re: Exploring the Lack of Baseball Games on the Xbox One

I'm surprised the MLB hasn't just asked the show to become their official baseball game and ask them to make it for x1 and pc...Well that's been my dream..lol

Yea that'll happen when EA wins the NCAA lawsuit. No chance of SONY making a game to be played on their competitors system.

[TSOLEliot]

Re: Exploring the Lack of Baseball Games on the Xbox One

I'm still doing 2K13 on the 360...The roster work and slider work put in my contributors on OS is fantastic. 2K13 is pretty much 2K12 but it plays a little smoother.

I even still have EA's college baseball on my original Xbox since it has the MVP engine. Still love that game and doesn't bother me about the rosters not being up to date with college. Though my kids look at me and are appalled by the graphics! This new generation!