Balatro Dev Clowns On PEGI Ratings Criteria As Games With Actual Gambling Are Sold To Kids

Earlier this year, Balatro was rated 18+ by PEGI, the classification board in charge of game ratings across Europe. Developer LocalThunk has resurfaced frustration over the rating, joking in a series of tweets that it should add “real gambling” to lower its rating down to 3+, like the recently released EA Sports FC 25.

In PEGI’s reasoning for the rating, the board singles out the use of real-life poker hands in Balatro, stating that its inclusion could teach players its mechanics for use in real gambling. Despite poker just being the basis for Balatro’s roguelite gameplay, PEGI says its prominent gambling imagery is deserving of its highest Adults Only rating. This rating isn’t new either–earlier this year, it was the reason Balatro was suddenly pulled from several console storefronts, as its previous 3+ rating was changed overnight without prior notice.

LocalThunk hasn’t let it go, citing a game that several European countries have previously deemed to have gambling elements. EA Sport FC 25 contains the same microtransactions and loot-box mechanics that have been in the series ever since Ultimate Team was first announced, but has maintained its 3+ “suitable for all ages” rating. LocalThunk points to this specifically as a double standard, even joking that Balatro should incorporate the same mechanics in order to get its rating lowered.

LocalThunk continued to say that the issue wasn’t necessarily with Balatro’s own rating, but that other more blatant examples of “gambling mechanics for children” should be similarly clamped down on. “The red logo looks kinda dope,” concluded the developer.

Balatro’s rating hasn’t stopped its meteoric success since launch. The game has sold over 3.5 million copies, and won several awards at last week’s The Game Awards show. The captivating roguelite is also one of GameSpot’s top 10 games of 2024.