Difficulty Settings Guide For MLB The Show 24

MLB The Show 24 brings the intense action from the television screen directly into the palm of the player's hands, and the ability to choose any difficulty is a great way to usher in a new era of fans while challenging those who have been around for a while. From gameplay styles to a variety of different difficulty levels, playing this year's installment is accessible to all players, of any skill level.

MLB The Show 24 Should Make Room for Two Cover Athletes

The most talented players in MLB become cover athletes of The Show, and The Show 24 may need more than one to showcase the league's biggest stars.

Players can set their gameplay style to play casually and go through each game quickly, or get the full, immersive experience of a real baseball game, which may last up to several hours. There are different degrees of difficulty that come with MLB The Show 24; helping those who are starting off or for players looking to make life easy and hitting some home runs with relative ease. There is also the most difficult of settings that will make competitive baseball as challenging as ever.

How Preferred Gameplay Style Works

Booting up the game, once everything is installed, players will be greeted with the option of setting their gameplay style. This choice can be altered at any time by visiting the settings menu. There are three options in total, ranging from Casual to Competitive, and give players an opportunity to play MLB The Show in a few different ways. Here are the three gameplay settings, and what they offer to the player:

Casual — An easier, fun, pick-up-and-play experience with an emphasis on learning the game. For newcomers, mostly.
Simulation — Authentic MLB experience that plays true to player and team ratings. For experienced players looking for a challenge.
Competitive — User input reigns supreme. Our online head-to-head default. For the die-hard gamers that wish to test their skills against the best.

It's suggested to stick with Casual if this is the first time picking up the game, as learning the fundamentals and mechanics of MLB The Show 24 will go a long way to building up the confidence and skill to move on and face greater challenges.

How Many Difficulty Settings Are In MLB The Show 24?

There are eight different difficulty settings in MLB The Show 24, ranging from the Beginner stage, offering players with training wheels to pick up a bat and swing with little worry, to Legend, for those aiming to top the charts and become the best. Each step up increases the degree of difficulty, including pitchers tossing more types of pitches, batters becoming more aware of strategy, and infielders capable of finishing off a double play. Pay close attention to the details of each setting below before choosing:

Beginner — "Our easiest difficulty setting that allows users to learn the mechanics of MLB The Show." First-time players may want to use this setting to test out the different areas of the game and get a feel for both ends of the field.
Amateur — "An accessible difficulty level that balances the gameplay experience and success for newer users." Pitches may come in faster and test the patience of batters, plus infielders will be a bit smarter with their plays.
Minors — "A tough, yet accessible gameplay experience for new users." Newcomers will get their first test of their abilities before moving on to the level of those who are experienced, but beware that teams with higher rankings will be tough to take down.
Rookie — "A slightly more challenging gameplay experience for newer users." The highest degree of difficulty advised for new players, as the challenge will come at both ends of the plate, and decision-making will be key to success.
Veteran — "A well-balanced starting difficulty suitable for returning users." Not recommended for those picking up the controller for the first time or returning from hiatus. Watch those check swings and be patient with long pitch counts.
All-Star — "A difficult gameplay experience that is ideal for returning users looking for a challenge." Those who are coming back from last year may want to get their rust shaken off in this challenging mode, where teams will strike out players as easily as their batters will hit home runs.
Hall of Fame — "A demanding gameplay experience for those who want to put their skills to the test." Experience gamers may have a hard time with this mode, as games will feel especially long and dreadful against strong bullpens and a shortstop with a lethal arm.
Legend — "The most challenging gameplay experience. This difficulty will challenge even the best players." This mode will truly test the patience and will of the best players in the world. Content creators on every platform will be choosing this mode to declare their dominance in the game.

Like the gameplay settings, the difficulty at the game can be changed at any time, so players aren't locked into something beyond their abilities forever. There is also the possibility to scale the difficulty, using the Dynamic Difficulty setting. This takes the decision out of the players' hands, forcing them to adapt to the new difficulty forced onto them.

What Is Dynamic Difficulty?

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Dynamic difficulty is an option given to players looking to test their skills on the field and decide for them what mode they should be playing in. With this setting enabled, the difficulty will be increased or decreased, based on the players' performance in the game. Hit three home runs in a row in one inning and chase the starting pitcher from the mound? It's time to increase the difficulty a bit. Lose the home opener in the double digits? Maybe it's time to take a break in Novice for a while.

If this setting isn't to the player's liking, they can simply turn it off and make the decision for themselves. It can't hurt to try it out, but it isn't for everyone, especially those looking to have some fun and not take part in the more competitive side of MLB The Show 24. The choice is completely up to the player.