Balatro’s creator explains why the game has no DLC... And calls out the industry
LocalThunk believes paid expansions only harm the player experience, making a bold statement against modern monetization practices.
Released in 2024, Balatro quickly became a viral hit, earning the Best Indie award at The Game Awards. Despite its popularity, the game has never received paid DLC, though it has featured free content updates tied to franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Fallout. According to its anonymous creator, LocalThunk, that’s unlikely to change.
Why Balatro avoids microtransactions and season passes
In a candid post on BlueSky, LocalThunk explained their strong stance against paid content:
“The honest reason I don’t have microtransactions, season passes, ads, 100 DLCs, etc., in Balatro isn’t just about the ethics of those practices. It’s because when I play other games that have them, it makes me want to put my computer in the dishwasher and set it to pots & pans.”
The honest reason I don't have microtransactions/season pass/ads/100 DLCs/etc in Balatro isn't just about the ethics of those practices but because when I play other games that have those things it makes me want to put my computer in the dishwasher and set it to pots & pans
— localthunk (@localthunk.com) 3 de junio de 2025, 16:42
They further argued that bombarding players with monetization ruins the first impression of a game, making it less enjoyable.
Balatro vs. ESRB: A fight over age ratings
Balatro was rated M for Mature by the ESRB due to its poker mechanics, a decision that LocalThunk has strongly criticized.
They pointed out that EA Sports FC, which features real-money gambling mechanics, holds an E rating, calling the system inconsistent:
“Since ESRB gave us an M for playing with evil cards, maybe I should add microtransactions, loot boxes, or real betting so it drops to E, like EA Sports FC.”
Apparently Balatro videos are being rated 18+ on YouTube now for gambling Good thing we are protecting children from knowing what a 4 of a kind is and letting them watch CS case opening videos instead
— localthunk (@localthunk.com) 5 de abril de 2025, 14:39
Where to play Balatro
Balatro is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile.
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