Balatrowhich was runner-up for the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards, is definitely a popular game. However, for months now it has been plagued with a black mark of sorts on digital storefronts. This, Pegi level 18 shows that the game is for adults only, still after months of pushback, despite other games with serious gambling staying at level 3+. Earlier today, Balatro's solo development brought the issue to light again.
LocalThunk did so through a joke of sorts, hearing on Twitter if Balatro's level went down to level 3+ “like EA Sports FC” if he added microtransactions/loot boxes/real gambling. This is, obviously, high praise, however it points to a ranking problem within the video game industry.
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Pegi – the Pan European Game Information rating system – is a rating system that is widely used in the region to give users a rough guide to what kind of content can be seen in games. Pegi official website gives us an insight into what a game needs to do to warrant an 18+ rating, and as you can see Balatro's problem comes from a small slice of the wider guideline. If all this is familiar touch, Balatro's official account they reported back in March after the game was suddenly removed from stores and its sudden change from 3+ to 18+ rating.
“The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a level where it is a depiction of actual violence, wanton killing, or violence against defenseless characters. sexual activity should also be in this age group.”
On the official list Balatro Pegiwe can confirm that it is Balatro's association with Poker hands, and winning chips, that has drawn Pegi's ire.
“This game teaches – through pictures, information and gameplay – the skills and knowledge used in poker. During play, the player is rewarded with 'chips' for playing certain hands. As the player goes through these poker hands, the game explains what types of cards the player would need to play certain hands in the real world, this experience and skill could be transferred to a real poker game.”
Is this, however, the same as “imitation of gambling”? That's the question, and that's a question everyone should separate themselves. Personally, I don't see the harm in teaching poker hands, as long as the game itself does not allow gambling, which gambling may cancel additions.
But, as LocalThunk points out, this discussion is rather silly when you consider other games true gambling is still on the store with a rating of 3+. EA FC 25featured by LocalThunk, contains loot boxes that you can purchase for in-game currency. Loot boxes, in case you don't know, are microtransactions with an inherent random chance. You buy one, and perhaps you will get the card you want. Whether these are considered gambling has been a hot debate over the past few years.
The UK government has not gone so far as to define them as gambling yetbut it has established rules that require parental control so that concerned parents can stop their children from buying them. The European Parliament, a governing body that manages Pegi turf as usual, they are not classified as gambling either. Individual countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands have banned them however. It is a country by country situation.
Yes this means that games that contain loot boxes, which open all kinds of doors to reckless spending and maybe even gambling trends, are in this technological gray area. Not quite gambling, at least not enough to warrant sweeping legal changes. But Balatro has committed the sin of using playing cards, something that even the oldest of politicians can recognize.
Will the situation change? Probably not, at least not in the near future. Extensive changes to storefronts required a major push from various organizations around the globe. Balatro's situation looks equally dire, with Pegi seemingly steadfast in her decision to push the game to 18+ level back in March. Shame too. It's a good game with a bright red warning that might scare parents. Fingers crossed that somehow, we end up with Balatro on top.