LocalThunk, developer of the Game of the Year-nominated game Balatro on Steam, ironically counters the PEGI rating, which makes their game accessible only from the age of 18. Its “evil playing cards” are evidently rated more strictly than other potential candidates.
How did the developer respond to the rating? LocalThunk shared his reaction to the rating in a statement on X:
Since PEGI has given us a rating of 18+ because we have evil playing cards, maybe I should add microtransactions/loot boxes/real gambling so that the rating, like EA Sports FC, can be lowered to 3+.
LocalThunk, developer of Balatro via X
The double standards that LocalThunk addresses in his comment is the fact that games like EA Sports FC are rated less strictly and deemed suitable for children according to PEGI, despite having microtransactions in the form of “random content” through card packs or loot boxes.
Here you can see the trailer of the game:
No real money, but real poker hands
How does PEGI justify the 18+ rating? The high age rating for Balatro is justified by the fact that it teaches players theoretical poker knowledge through game mechanics and processes. Balatro rewards players with chips, explains the structure of real poker hands, and generally has a striking poker aesthetic.
However, unlike real poker, no real money is used. Real money that can be quickly spent on microtransactions in other video games with lower PEGI ratings. And that is LocalThunk’s weakness.
“Just to clarify,” the developer adds in a subsequent post on X, “I am much more annoyed about the 3+ for these games with real gambling mechanisms for children than the 18+ rating for Balatro. If the other games were rated correctly, I would gladly accept the ridiculous 18+ rating.”
The developer seems to want to lighten the situation with a bit of humor: “The red logo looks kind of cool.”
Gambling in Gaming – A problem?
What connects microtransactions with gambling? As early as 2019, a researcher from York St. John University, Dr. David Zendle, linked loot boxes to “problematic gambling.” He explains that the more people spend on loot boxes, the more serious the suspicion of gambling becomes. This is not only his own research but an effect that has been observed by several independent labs worldwide.
Zendle emphasizes that it is a concerning problem that the gaming industry does not address. The gaming companies are the ones benefiting from consumer spending. Dr. Zendle’s assessments were also reported by PC Gamer in 2019.
What is LocalThunk’s stance on gambling? Balatro is an indie game without microtransactions or paid content. Despite the obvious poker aesthetic and PEGI’s rating, the developer has no interest in promoting problematic gambling. LocalThunk explicitly wants to ensure this, which he even wrote down in black and white in his will.
According to the developer’s statement, the Balatro IP must never be sold or licensed to a gambling company or casino.
Whether one shares LocalThunk’s opinion or understands PEGI’s rating more, is up to each individual. However, if you want to know more about Balatro, which was also nominated for Game of the Year this year, you can read a more detailed overview of the game on MeinMMO: Steam: The new indie hit is like poker, but much better – Costs only 14 €
