Balatro's PEGI rating has been revised from 18 to 12 following an appeal by its publisher. This decision corrects a previous misclassification that placed the roguelike deckbuilder in the same category as mature titles like Grand Theft Auto, a designation that surprised both the developer and players.
The initial PEGI 18 rating stemmed from the game's depiction of gambling-related imagery, despite the lack of real-money transactions or betting. This misinterpretation also impacted Balatro's mobile release. The developer, Localthunk, announced the change on Twitter.
This isn't Balatro's first encounter with regulatory issues; it was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its gambling mechanics, even though the game doesn't involve real-money wagering. The in-game currency is solely used for purchasing cards within each playthrough.
The developer expressed frustration over the rating inconsistencies across platforms, particularly given the prevalence of in-app purchases in mobile gaming. While the corrected PEGI 12 rating is a welcome change, the initial misclassification highlights the challenges developers face in navigating varying content rating systems.
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