MLB Advance Media has confirmed that R.B.I. Baseball 19 will soon be having another swing for that glorious home run on Switch, launching on the console early next month.
The latest in a franchise which has arrived on Switch in both 2018 and 2017, the 2019 edition is said to continue to deliver "fast arcade baseball fun". We wouldn't say we've experienced all that much fun in previous releases - we described last year's effort as a "disappointing baseball 'simulation'" in our review - so we're hoping for better things this time around.
A lengthy feature list for the game has been provided. Check it out below:
- Your Franchise with Total Flexibility: Develop and manage your MLB squad across multiple seasons by adding at the trade deadline, signing free agents, calling up prospects and even taking advantage of newly added two-way players.
- Fashion Sense: Every official 2019 uniform for all 30 teams and more gear & equipment options than ever before.
- Authentic MLB Players: Updated player models including over 350 redesigned likenesses, hundreds of new animations, more realistic player movements and reactions to deliver a whole new level of authenticity.
- Revamped Physics: Reengineered ball physics bring realism to every pitch, hit, and play.
- Legends & Legend Teams: Play as 165+ all-time greats. All-new Legends Teams available for play on Exhibition Mode and Friendly Online matches.
- Stunning Environments: Amplified lighting, textures, cinematic sequences and 3-D crowd system in all 30 ballparks.
- Home Run Derby, Your Way: Pick any MLB player or MLB Legend, compete in any MLB ballpark and customize a bracket for the ultimate Derby showdown.
- Online Multiplayer: Play ranked and friendly exhibition games with friends and the rest of the world.
- Bigger and Better Soundtrack: A new soundtrack with music from popular artists including OneRepublic, CHVRCHES, Greta Van Fleet, and many more!
- Weekly Stats & Roster Updates: Stay up-to-date with weekly roster updates throughout the regular season
The game will launch on 5th March for $29.99 and digital pre-orders have already gone live on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Have you played the previous entries? Did you enjoy them enough to upgrade to the newest release? Share your thoughts with us below.
Comments 19
The "Legacy Edition" subtitle is missing.
Swing and a miss!
I remember having fun playing World Series Baseball on Saturn at a friend's house back in the day.
Not sure why I'm announcing that...
@AcridSkull because it was an incredible baseball game that’s why!! Blew me away!!
Yea If only it was a decent baseball game then the Switch could have a legit entry!!
Edit- sorry Baseball Stars is pretty cool but certainly not of the MLB the Show status!
The only baseball games worth playing have robots.
I'm surprised Super Mega Baseball 2 hasn't been released on the Switch. Would seem like an obvious fit.
You know what would be great? If they just took the original RBI Baseball for NES and updated it with current teams and rosters. And throw in a tournament mode or something. Perfect baseball game!
God I hope this is decent. NES Baseball can only take things so far. I like the new features they are adding but it will come down to gameplay. Scary that the preview was all CGI and no actual gameplay though.
@joey302 I would pay $20 for NES Baseball Stars. Loved that game. I prefer my baseball games more arcade like rather than sim like
The Nintendo life review of RBI was one of the most uninformed reviews I've ever read.
As someone who loved the NES Baseball Stars, and played the heck out of the original RBI Baseball, this new game is just what I want, and I've put a lot of hours into it.
It isn't MVP Baseball, MLB the show, or anything that performs like a Sim. It isn't deep in strategy and team management (however it is more Sim than those NES titles mentioned above by miles).
Having played dozens of baseball games over the years, I'd say the RBI of today plays most like RBI baseball of the NES era out of any game I've played.
I think the negativity towards this series is largely unfair (at least it is unfair starting last year, pre last year RBI was pretty crappy!)
For me I'm stoked we get the game in March.
I'll buy it digital on day one because I want it always available on my system.
I'm looking forward to it with gusto!
I bought Super Mega Baseball last year waiting for the much delayed RBI. Super Mega had skill and charm, it's very good, but the mix of arcade and simulation in RBI wrapped up in games you can play in under a half hour is EXACTLY what I'm looking for.
RBI has its issues, but it is A MUCH better game than some say.
At the end of the day, if you want a proper complex Sim, this isn't the game for you. The Show is like NBA 2k, if that is what you want you'll be disappointed with RBI.
If you want an arcade game that captures light Sim features, RBI is a great game.
I'm old enough to remember when R.B.I. was one of the best, maybe the best, baseball sims around. Now? I think it's telling that even the MLB recognizes MLB The Show from Sony as the official game for the sport over one published by a group called MLB Advanced Media. As a big sports fan, one thing I really miss is the days when there were several options across all sports, even from first party publishers. If you're a hardcore baseball fanatic like I am and you want a baseball game, PS4 is the only console you can get a decent sim and it's disappointing that it's this way. Hopefully this year the R.B.I. dev finally gets it right and takes big steps towards giving Nintendo and Xbox baseball fans a legit option.
@pjzelda I prefer arcade style as well! I’d love to see a combo of arcade style play with today’s graphics! That would be cool! Anyway I hope RBI 19 is much improved!
The rbi baseball games lately have been awful. I have the show pre ordered to fill my baseball needs
Can Nintendo just remake SNES Griffey Presents MLB Baseball, update the graphics a little, keep the name editor, I don't need real names, and let me play that. I really hope this RBI is good but I've mostly heard bad things about the series.
This series really makes me wish we had MLB The Show on Switch. If they'd get their act together I'd fully support them, but this series has been a textbook example of "mailing it in."
It’s not the superb MLB The Show as that’s a PS4 exclusive but this is as close as we will get so I’m all for it.
@Gamer83
I don’t think this series will ever take a sim approach, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a good arcade experience.
I skipped it the last 2 years, because it just wasn’t up to my standards. But I have noticed it’s been improving every year, and 2019 looks like a respectable jump forward. The visuals definitely look better anyways. Looks like you can play as Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, etc (hopefully Babe Ruth, Nolan Ryan, Ty Cobb... ya? That would be awesome, but only if they adjusted their stats accordingly- just having their number and name on the jersey isn’t enough).
Anyways, I’m much more interested in an arcade like experience than a sim, mostly because I don’t really follow the sport anymore and don’t like sports games that are too simmy (but I still have love for it because baseball was everything to me when I was growing up).
Here’s to hoping this year is the one. Even if it’s not, the simple fact it’s improving every year is enough to feel assured it could be next year, or the year after, if nothing else.
@JaxonH
I should've changed my wording. I don't really care if a baseball game is a simulation like The Show, or a more arcade type experience, I just want a good MLB game on Switch. Keep hoping Nintendo will someday return to this arena but I'm thinking Sony must have some kind of deal in place.
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