MLB The Show 26 is scheduled to fully release on March 17, 2026, and players who pre-order the game can pick up a variety of bonuses before launch. For those who choose the Digital Deluxe edition, Early Access begins on March 13, letting them start playing a few days earlier than everyone else. The extra rewards are mostly focused on helping players get started in Diamond Dynasty, though they're still useful for anyone planning to spend time in other modes MLB The Show 26 stubs.

Every version of the game that's pre-ordered includes a Gold Choice Pack. This pack lets you choose one player card to add to your Diamond Dynasty roster right away, which can help fill an important position early on. Instead of relying on random packs, you can pick a player that fits your team. Players who pre-order the Standard Edition also receive five The Show Packs, giving them a few extra chances to pull cards for their lineup. The Standard Edition is priced at $69.99 on most platforms, with the Nintendo Switch version coming in slightly cheaper.

The Digital Deluxe Edition adds quite a bit more content. In addition to Early Access and the Gold Choice Pack, players receive 20 The Show Packs and two World Baseball Classic Choice Packs. These packs include cards tied to the World Baseball Classic, and can feature stars like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, or Manny Machado. There's also a Legend Choice Pack with classic players such as Roy Halladay, Chipper Jones, and Ken Griffey Jr.. Being able to choose from these packs makes it easier to build a balanced roster early in the game.

On top of the player packs, the Digital Deluxe edition includes a few extra bonuses. Players receive a World Baseball Classic Uniform Pack, an Equipment Pack for customization items, and a Cover Athlete Bat Skin Pack. Another helpful perk is Double Daily Rewards, which increases the amount of daily bonuses players can collect. The bundle also includes 20,000 Stubs, the in-game currency used for buying cards, opening packs, or making moves in the marketplace.

There's also a small loyalty bonus for returning players. Anyone who has owned a digital copy of an MLB The Show game since 2021 can get about a 10% discount on the Digital Deluxe pre-order. In addition, players who earned Now & Later Packs in MLB The Show 25 can redeem those rewards in MLB The Show 26 once the new game launches. Physical copies of the game generally include similar pack bonuses but don't offer Early Access or the Stub currency.

For players who plan to spend a lot of time in Diamond Dynasty, the extra packs and Stubs from the Digital Deluxe edition can make the early days of the game easier. Early Access also means players can start completing programs, building collections, and learning the market before the official launch rush fastest way to get stubs in MLB The Show 26.

The choice mostly comes down to how much time you expect to spend in the game's online modes. The Standard Edition offers a simple starting boost, while the Digital Deluxe edition focuses on giving players a stronger start in Diamond Dynasty. Either way, pre-order bonuses provide a helpful jump into the season when the game officially releases.