As Australia follows suit with a Mature rating.
Balatro developer LocalThunk has lashed out against Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) and its “weirdo” decision to issue the game with an 18+ rating.
PEGI issued the 18+ rating due to “prominent gambling imagery” as it uses a deck of playing cards. The rating was issued despite the indie game having zero microtransactions or additional in-game costs.
“Since PEGI gave us an 18+ rating for having evil playing cards maybe I should add microtransactions/loot boxes/real gambling to lower that rating to 3+ like EA Sports FC,” LocalThunk wrote on Twitter.
“I’m way more irked at the 3+ for these games with actual gambling mechanics for children than I am about Balatro having an 18+ rating,” LocalThunk added. “If these other games were rated properly I’d happily accept the weirdo 18+. The red logo looks kinda dope.”
Indeed, PEGI has issued EA Sports FC with a 3+ rating, despite acknowledging Ultimate Team microtransactions and “the opportunity to purchase in-game items, in the form of an in-game currency, which can be used to purchase random card packs and other game items.”
Here in Australia, a 15 December 2024 classification by the Australian Classification Board (ACB) has issued Balatro a Mature (15+) rating due to “simulated gambling”. While the ACB classified EA Sports FC 24 with a General rating despite “chance-based in-game purchases”, it classified EA Sports FC 25 as Mature because of “chance-based and in-game purchases”.
“Talked with PEGI and they do not see anything wrong Balatro being rated 18+, nor with EA Sports FC (and similar games) having a 3+ rating,” LocalThunk said today on Bluesky. “Blaming EU laws, blaming storefronts, waiting for the future. Sitting on their hands.”
Balatro won several awards at The Game Awards 2024 and is sure to make an appearance or two on Stevivor’s own Game of the Year awards program.
Balatro is currently available on Windows PC, Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, Switch, iOS, and Android.
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