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.

 

Super Mega Baseball.

 

Super Mega Baseball is arguably the best option available at the moment. It showcases a mix of over-the-top visuals with realistic, in-depth mechanics, and the core gameplay is even somewhat reminiscent of Sony's MLB: The Show when you strip back all the extra details. It isn't going to satisfy your need for a realistic baseball experience, however, and it can't rival The Show's luxurious feature set.

It is not fair to place unrealistic expectations on either series. Neither are intended as replacements for the AAA titles that once graced Microsoft's consoles. While Super Mega Baseball might be an adequate alternative, it doesn't offer online gameplay or a particularly in-depth season mode to keep you entertained throughout the entire year. Neither series can (or even tries to) boast the same level of graphics and realistic simulation gameplay MLB: The Show possesses. These games are meant to be an alternative baseball experience, not the main one.

So, let's rewind for a minute. As we approach the release of MLB: The Show 16, Xbox One owners are forced to resign themselves to yet another year without a major baseball game. Why is this the case after over two years of the console's existence?

The Xbox 360 last featured a baseball title in the form of MLB 2K13; the last entry in a series that was struggling to compete with Sony's offering. After mediocre reviews and sales, 2K Sports pulled the plug on the series after its MLB licensing agreement expired at the end of 2013. Suddenly, the Xbox was left without a dedicated baseball series, and the situation has been the same ever since.

 

MVP NCAA Baseball 07.

 

Many have clamored for EA to make a return to the baseball scene after enjoying success with the MVP Baseball series a decade ago. Unfortunately, despite commenting in 2013 that they have an "inherent passion for baseball", EA have yet to announce anything regarding a new series being in the works.

You have to wonder whether a brand-new series could even compete with MLB: The Show. Sure, it'd be on a different platform, but the costs of licensing would presumably serve as a significant barrier of entry, and any company would have to be willing to invest significant time and money if it wanted to craft an experience to rival Sony's game. Is it worth it? The answer would appear to be "no" at this point.

It looks like we're going to be waiting for at least another year. Who knows, will we be forced to endure that wait until the next console generation rolls around? For now, there can be no doubt; the PlayStation 4 is the ideal home for hardcore baseball fans.