Next MLB The Show game will not have a cover athlete

January 26, 2026 - 12:52pm

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The next game in the MLB The Show series is breaking from tradition.

MLB The Show '26 will not have a cover star when it arrives later this year.

San Diego Studios, which makes the games for Sony Interactive Entertainment, announced the news on Monday.

In a short statement, the studio didn't give a reason for the change and said more information about the upcoming title will be announced soon.

The cover athlete has traditionally been a way for video game companies to generate excitement while marketing the next edition of their games. Recent cover athletes in the MLB The Show series include Paul Skenes, Elly De La Cruz and Gunnar Henderson in 2025, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2024 and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in 2023.

MLB The Show '26 will be released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch platforms. No release date has been announced, but new entries typically hit store shelves a couple of weeks before the start of the next MLB season.