The creator of Balatro is not satisfied with the 18+ rating in Europe.
PEGI states that what is learned in Balatro could be applied to real poker.
The creator of Balatro, a roguelike poker game who goes by the pseudonym LocalThunk, recently expressed his frustration over the 18+ rating the game received in Europe. In a post on X over the weekend, he stated that since PEGI granted a rating of 18 for having "evil gaming cards," he might consider adding microtransactions, loot boxes, or even real gambling to lower that rating to 3+, similar to what happens with EA Sports FC.
This rating issue is not new for Balatro. Initially, the game received a 3+ rating, but shortly after its release in February, PEGI decided to rate it as 18+. This, according to Playstack, its publisher, led to the temporary removal of the game from several digital stores in certain countries.
The reason for this classification, according to the PEGI page, is that the game “features a prominent depiction of betting.” It also details that the content teaches, through images, information, and the game itself, skills and knowledge related to poker. During the gameplay, players are rewarded with "chips" for playing certain hands, and they can access a list of poker hand types. As they progress, players learn which hands earn more points, providing them knowledge that could be applied in a real poker game.
Despite Balatro including images and poker hands that could translate to a real-life game, it is important to note that the game does not include any form of gambling. In fact, LocalThunk has specified in his statement that Balatro cannot be sold or licensed to any gambling company.
LocalThunk also expressed his displeasure that games like EA Sports FC allow in-game purchases of random content, which he considers a more serious issue. In a recent statement, he was more upset about the 3+ rating for these child-targeted games than about the 18+ rating Balatro received.
The creator attempted to discuss the game’s rating with PEGI, but the entity did not see any issue with the 18+ rating for Balatro, nor with the 3+ rating for EA Sports FC and similar games. According to LocalThunk, PEGI defended its decision by citing EU laws and awaiting future developments on this matter. PEGI did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment.
