If you’re looking into adding Balatro to your game library recently, you’ll be surprised to know that the game is being delisted from some online stores in certain countries. The indie roguelike card game has received a sudden increase in its age rating without warning, resulting in immediate removal from specific digital storefronts.
According to publisher Playstack through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, this was caused by a “mistaken belief that the game contains prominent gambling imagery and material that instructs about gambling”. A ratings board has changed the game’s age rating from 3+ to 18+, even though Playstack claims that these same issues were already addressed back in October.
The publisher claims the game’s content hasn’t received any relevant changes that would affect its rating. It displays its genuine disappointment in this decision that has affected the recent hit game, which has received many positive reviews from both players and critics.
Playstack also informs that Balatro’s developer is “staunchly anti-gambling, and painstaking care has been taken to ensure that the game does not feature gambling mechanics of any kind”.
According to X users, Balatro livestreams on Tiktok have also been reportedly banned for featuring gambling, while nothing similar to such practices can even be found in the game. While there’s a basis for such claims, Balatro is far from a gambling game.
Balatro does look like a regular Poker game at first, but it quickly evolves into a crazy (and incredibly fun) mess where players can gather tons of different cards to make new synergies and bend the rules of the game to their liking with powerful Joker cards with the most insane effects ever imagined.
The game has been temporarily removed from online stores in certain countries where gambling practices in games are strictly forbidden. Players who previously owned Balatro can still play it as normal, but newcomers won’t be able to get the game. Playstack pledges the situation will be solved, even if it needs a temporary 18+ rating.
Note that not all countries have been affected, so there’s still a good chance that you can buy and play Balatro right now. More information should arise in the following days as Playstack comes up with its intended solution.
