The highly acclaimed roguelike deck-builder Balatro, which has become a massive indie success, will not be receiving its anticipated 1.1 update in 2025 as planned.
The game’s solo developer, known as LocalThunk, announced the delay in a candid blog post, explaining that his own well-being and a healthier work-life balance are the primary reasons for the postponement.
The initial announcement of the 1.1 update came after an incredibly successful launch period for Balatro. The game, which sold over 5 million copies and received numerous awards, including “Best Indie Game” at The Game Awards 2024, put immense pressure on the developer.
LocalThunk admitted that after a grueling “crunch mode” to get the game to launch, he immediately went into developing a major balance patch and a mobile port, which led to severe burnout by late 2024.
Instead of returning to that unsustainable pace to meet a self-imposed deadline, LocalThunk has chosen to work on the game in a manner similar to when it was a hobby project. He stated, “I am working slowly, but I like it that way,” and “I love getting sucked into rabbit holes and I don’t like trying to force things creatively.” This new, slower approach means the update will now be released in 2026, or as the developer put it, “It’s done when it’s done.”
The community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans have expressed their support for LocalThunk, echoing the sentiment that the developer’s health is more important than a rushed update. This reaction highlights a growing movement within the gaming community that values sustainable development practices over a constant stream of new content, a sentiment also seen with other indie titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong.
