Balatro's PEGI rating downgraded to 12 after publisher appeal.
The roguelike deckbuilder, Balatro, initially received a PEGI 18 rating, a classification comparable to games like Grand Theft Auto, much to the developer's surprise. This led to confusion and concern, especially given the game's content.
However, the PEGI ratings board has since corrected their assessment, reclassifying Balatro as PEGI 12. This adjustment followed an appeal lodged by the game's publisher. Developer Localthunk announced the news on Twitter.
This isn't Balatro's first brush with regulatory issues. The game was briefly removed from the Nintendo eShop due to concerns about its depiction of gambling mechanics, despite the absence of real-money transactions or betting. The game uses in-game currency to purchase cards, a purely abstract mechanic.
The PEGI 18 rating stemmed from the game's use of gambling-related imagery, a decision the developer finds frustrating. This misclassification extended to mobile platforms, despite the prevalence of in-app purchases in mobile gaming.
While the corrected PEGI 12 rating is a positive development, the initial misjudgment highlights inconsistencies in rating systems. For those intrigued by Balatro, a tier list of Jokers within the game is available to help players strategize.
