In what can probably be termed as a tribute, or at least an homage to recent events, MLB 15: The Show has recently allowed gamers to play a game featuring both the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox in front of an empty stadium.
The game is meant to recreate the same contest between the two teams held in Camden Yards in Baltimore which was played in an empty stadium due in large part to the unrest and widespread violence happening inside the city at the moment, according to Gamespot.
Gamers can choose to play the crowdless game by going to the gameplay mode known as The Show Live and then opt to select the game scheduled for April 29 between the Orioles and the White Sox.
The video game version of the crowdless contest is just as weird as its real life counterpart. According to Game Rant, no crowd noise can be heard for the virtual version of the game, and only a few spectators are found loitering around the standing room section of the stadium. According to Sony, the standing room only fans could not be removed because of technical reasons.
Adding to the eeriness of the game is the fact that the in-game commentators are still calling the game without addressing the empty stadium and are generally just talking about the game as they would any other.
In real life, the Orioles and White Sox were scheduled to play a three game series starting on Monday, April 27, but both that game and the one scheduled for Tuesday were cancelled after the unruly crowds made holding the game a safety risk, according to Polygon.
Since postponing the third game of the series posed a logistical nightmare for both teams, MLB and both organizations simply chose to just play the game in front of an empty stadium to minimize safety concerns while also finding a way to work out the schedule.
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