The popular poker-based roguelike game, Balatro, has recently been removed from several digital storefronts due to a ratings mix-up. Despite its success on Steam’s top ten most popular games list, the game’s age rating suddenly jumped from 3+ to 18+ without warning.
In a statement on Playstack’s Twitter page, the publisher acknowledged the temporary removal of Balatro from sale on console platforms in some countries. This was in response to a ratings board mistakenly believing the game contained gambling imagery and material, leading to the age rating change.
Playstack emphasized that Balatro does not promote or encourage gambling, and the sudden ratings change was unfounded. The publisher had previously addressed concerns about potential gambling imagery with ratings boards, who initially gave the game a 3+ rating.
Despite the disappointment in the ratings board’s actions, Balatro remains available on PC platforms. Players can still enjoy the game without worrying about gambling mechanics, as the developer is staunchly anti-gambling and has taken great care to ensure the game does not feature gambling elements.