Just weeks after the launch of MLB The Show 26, the honeymoon phase is officially over. The community over at r/MLBTheShow has erupted in frustration, and the target of their anger is a dramatic and unannounced reduction in XP rewards. What began as a generous, grind-friendly environment in March has reportedly collapsed into a stingy economy that players are comparing to a children’s arcade chain.
The data, meticulously gathered by players, paints a bleak picture. During the launch window, users were spoiled for choice. The Starter Program offered roughly 30,000 XP. Four World Baseball Classic programs and the Travis Hafner program delivered an additional 25,000 to 30,000 XP. Even Team Affinity allowed dedicated grinders to earn 4,500 XP per team. It felt like a golden age of progression. However, players claim that programs released over the last two weeks offer a maximum of just 4,000 to 8,000 XP. That is a reduction of nearly 75% in reward density.
One user perfectly captured the sentiment by comparing San Diego Studio’s strategy to the Chuck E. Cheese business model: “Buy your way into the game, lots of flashing lights and prizes you can’t really ever obtain, and a desk that lets you spend real money so you don’t feel like a loser.” The analogy has stuck because it highlights a painful reality: the game feels designed to frustrate free-to-play players into opening their wallets.
The XP nerf isn’t limited to programs either. Players report that live gameplay rewards have been slashed. A standard 1-2-3 inning in Franchise Mode on All-Star difficulty previously netted nearly 300 XP. Now, some users claim it yields as little as 99 XP. For players with full-time jobs, the climb toward top-tier rewards like Babe Ruth or Randy Johnson now feels impossible. One user lamented, “I’ve played countless mini seasons and completed every program, but I have nothing to show for it. Not even close to Randy.”
This frustration creates a clear choice for the dedicated player. You can either spend hundreds of hours grinding for scraps, or you can take a different path. Don’t let the XP drought ruin your enjoyment of Diamond Dynasty—Buy MLB The Show 26 Stubs today to skip the frustration and acquire the players you actually want. The current economy is broken, but your lineup doesn’t have to be. Secure your team now with MLB The Show 26 Stubs and stop letting a stingy progression system dictate how you play.
