In an intriguing turn of events, the age rating for Balatro in Europe has been revised, as announced by PEGI. Initially labeled as an 18+ title due to its poker elements, the game has now been reclassified to a PEGI 12 rating following a formal complaint from the game’s publisher.
Balatro, a deck-building roguelike crafted by the enigmatic Canadian developer LocalThunk, made its debut to global acclaim in February 2024. However, its visibility on digital platforms across Europe suffered because PEGI slapped it with an adult-only rating. The rationale? PEGI feared the game’s poker theme might encourage real-world gambling habits. LocalThunk didn’t take this lightly and continuously mocked the insensitive rating across social media.
The saga reached a resolution when, after a decision on February 24, PEGI lowered Balatro’s rating from 18 to 12. This decision came after the publisher, Sold Out Sales & Marketing, contested the initial rating. PEGI’s Complaints Board explained that while the game educates players about poker hands, its fantastical elements justified the new PEGI 12 classification.
Acknowledging its oversight, PEGI is set to overhaul its classification process. Moving forward, it aims to better differentiate between games that truly promote gambling and those that only touch on such themes. PEGI stated that its system is evolving, with new guidelines reflecting modern cultural contexts, continuing a 21-year tradition of adapting to change.
In a similar case, PEGI also reevaluated the age rating of Luck Be a Landlord, a calming yet satirical roguelike highlighting capitalism’s harsh realities. Originally pegged with an adult rating for its slot machine mechanics, this game, too, saw its age rating reduced to PEGI 12 after a publisher’s appeal.
Although PEGI hasn’t committed to a timeline for its revamped criteria, LocalThunk views this as a positive step. They see it as a move towards a more nuanced approach that avoids penalizing developers for their creative ingenuity.
