The Controversy Surrounding LocalThunk’s Balatro Game

The recently popular game, Balatro, created by LocalThunk, has encountered a roadblock as it has been pulled from some digital platforms due to concerns about promoting gambling. Despite the fact that players have stated that Balatro is not a game centered around gambling, there seems to be confusion among global ratings boards leading to the automatic reclassification of the game to restrict its audience.

In response to these concerns, the game publisher, Playstack, took to Twitter to clarify the situation. They stated that the issue does not lie with the digital storefronts themselves but rather with an abrupt change in Balatro’s age rating from 3+ to 18+ by a ratings board without prior notice. This change was based on the mistaken belief that the game contained prominent gambling imagery and material related to gambling. Playstack vehemently denied these claims, emphasizing that Balatro does not include any gambling mechanics and was developed by someone strongly opposed to gambling.

Playstack further explained that Balatro had already undergone a thorough review by the same ratings board in October 2023, which resulted in an initial rating of 3+ after an appeal process. Despite the successful appeal and the determination that no gambling themes were present in the game, the rating has now been escalated back to 18+, causing confusion and frustration among players and developers alike. Playstack is actively working to address this issue and is exploring options to restore the game to impacted platforms, potentially with a temporary 18+ rating.

For existing players who already own Balatro, they will still have access to the game regardless of its availability on storefronts. However, for those looking to purchase the game from affected platforms, it is advised to exercise patience as Playstack works to resolve the availability problem. The company remains committed to ensuring that Balatro is accurately categorized and accessible to its intended audience without any misinterpretations about its content.