Last Updated: 4/23/2020

It’s been amazing to see how excited everyone is for Super Mega Baseball 3! We’re seeing a lot of the same or similar questions being asked, so we’ve put together an official FAQ here. We will update this post periodically as we share more about the game and as we make decisions about additions/changes that will go into post-launch updates.

If you didn’t see our announcement post covering the basic features of SMB3, check it out here!

GENERAL:

When is Super Mega Baseball 3 coming out, on what platforms, and what will it cost? Updated: 4/23/20

Super Mega Baseball 3 will launch May 13, 2020 on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Steam for $44.99 USD. While originally announced with an April 2020 release window, industry-wide changes due to COVID-19 have led to some logistical delays and a revised release date.

Will it be available in any subscription services?

There are currently no plans to include SMB3 in any subscription services.

Will there be a beta or demo and when will it be available? Updated: 4/23/2020

There will be demo/trial versions on all four platforms on launch day, which will let you play an unlimited number of Pennant Race games (with team/stadium limitations), play limited Exhibition mode and dip into the customization suite. There will not be a beta version.

Can you release the demo/trial version now?

No, the demo/trial versions will not be approved for release any sooner than the full products - we'll be releasing both as soon as reasonably possible.

Will there be a physical version of the game?

No, it would be pretty cool but for now (and especially given current global circumstances) Super Mega Baseball 3 will be a digital-only title.

Does SMB3 have in-game purchases or DLC?

There are no in-game purchases and we don’t currently have plans for any DLC. But we will continue to support and update the game for some time post-launch!

ONLINE:

Is SMB3 cross-platform?

Yes, Pennant Race mode is cross-platform across all platforms, but arranged matches in all other modes are not. We do know that arranged cross-platform matches are highly requested, and we’ll consider it for post-launch updates – we cannot make any promises right now.

Will there be an online Season mode?

Maybe not in the sense you’re imagining. You’ll be able to play or simulate any combo of games/teams in customized Seasons and Elimination modes, and you can do this in an arranged party online with one user being the league owner. The type of organized online Season mode that you’re probably thinking of (with each participant controlling one team) is highly requested, though, and we’ll factor that into our decisions about post-launch updates. As usual, no promises!

FRANCHISE MODE:

Can Franchise mode be played online?

Franchise mode is played with one human-controlled team against the CPU, and can be played solo or with local/online co-op.

Will there be a salary cap in Franchise mode? Updated: 4/10/20

Yes, you will have to keep your team’s payroll under a cap. You’ll have to carefully balance the amount you’re spending on player salaries versus the amount you’re investing in Player Development.

Will there be an All-Star game in Franchise or Season mode?

We won’t have this at launch, but it’s something we may consider in future updates.

Will players’ skills fluctuate throughout their career? Updated: 4/10/20

Yes! Through Player Development and aging, players’ skills and traits will change over the course of their careers. You’ll see your younger players naturally improving as they gain experience and move toward their peak physical condition, whereas your older veteran players are going to lose a step or two compared to their younger counterparts over time.

Does Franchise mode have trades?

Maybe not in the traditional sense that you’re imagining, but players can and will move between teams during the season and offseason through the sign/release system, which we talk more about in reveal video #2!

Will there be any opportunities to improve player’s statistics and traits in Franchise mode? Updated: 4/10/20

For sure! Player Development allows players to hone their skills, combat the effects of aging and can also provide an opportunity to gain or lose a situational trait. Player Development opportunities will show up for individual players over time. Development opportunities will vary in cost and in the affects they’ll have on your players skills or traits.

Are players on one-year contracts? Updated: 4/23/20

In the sense that players are only guaranteed to play for a team at a locked-in salary for 1 season, yes. Though typically, only a small number of your players will resign/increase their salary expectations from season-to-season, so you'll see reasonable roster turnover over time. More traditional multi-year contracts are something we've considered, and will consider after launch with an eye on community feedback.

Will players age physically over time? Updated: 4/23/2020

Yes! Players can get grey and gain weight as the age, appearing after a certain amount of time has passed.

Can you tell us more about Franchise mode? Updated: 4/10/20

Our second reveal video covers everything we want to share about Franchise mode until the game launches! Check it out here.

OTHER MODES & GAMEPLAY:

Is there a knuckleball or any other new types of pitches?

No, the pitch types have not changed from SMB2 - but there are some changes to pitching mechanics which will be explained in an upcoming reveal video!

Will SMB3 have fully customizable Elimination brackets?

You will be able to set up Elimination brackets with teams seeded as you desire. There will be some limits to the format of the bracket, though.

Will SMB3 have a batting practice mode?

Practice modes did not make the cut for SMB3, but we’ll consider changes that make practicing your skills easier for future updates.

Will SMB3 have a home run derby mode?

Not at launch. This is another request we’ve seen quite a bit, so it’ll be up for consideration to implement in a future update. No promises though.

Will SMB3 have instant replays?

Instant replays did not make the cut for SMB3, but we are aware there is interest in this going forward.

Is the Ego difficulty system still around?

It sure is! Some new mechanics will take some getting used to and the higher end of Ego difficulties may be a bit harder than you remember, though, so we’d recommend starting on a lower Ego than you were playing SMB2 at.

Did you add a fielder switching mechanic? Updated: 4/23/2020

Yes! We touched on this in our third reveal video

Yes! We’ll explain how this will work in an upcoming reveal video.

Are there pickoffs?

There sure are! There are new pickoff and stealing mechanics as well as other additions to round out the baseball sim like wild pitches/passed balls and situational player traits.

Can we have a Designated Hitter?

Yes! DHs made it into SMB3, but of course you’ll have the option of whether or not you want to play with them.

CUSTOMIZATION & MORE:

Can we import custom rosters from SMB2 to SMB3? Updated: 4/10/20

Yes! But not at launch. This will come in a free post-launch update. We wrote about it in this post.

Will there be a roster vault?

No. It’s something we’ll continue to consider going forward, but it’s a complicated issue.

Will all of the stadiums from SMB2 be featured in SMB3?

Yes! All 10 of the stadiums from SMB2 are returning (which includes SMB2’s DLC stadiums), along with 4 brand new parks!

Can games be played in both day and night conditions?

Yes! All 14 ballparks feature unique day, night and alternate lighting conditions.

Have you added more head types?

Yes! We’ve added new male and female heads to give more variety to your teams.

Are there any new teams in SMB3? Updated: 4/23/20

Yep! There are four new teams! The Hot Corners, The Jacks, The Heaters and one more that will be revealed soon.

Do players have the same skill categories as SMB2 (eg. Power, Contact, etc.)?

The familiar skill categories will return, but players may now also have up to two situational player traits that make them perform better (or worse) in certain situations.

Are roster sizes still 21 and is my pitching staff still made up of 4 starters and 4 relievers? Updated 4/23/2020

Roster sizes remain at 21, however we've made pitching roles more flexible and some pitchers may now act as starters or long relievers. This is explained in more detail in our third reveal video