The overwhelming success of Balatro was one of many largest tales of 2024 and a life-changing occasion for solo dev LocalThunk. Nonetheless, LocalThunk remains to be just one man and he is revealed that his beforehand promised Balatro 1.1 replace is not going to be arriving this yr.
LocalThunk defined the explanations for the delay in a lengthy message on his official site, however it in the end boils all the way down to the identify of his put up: “I am Gradual.” He apologized to gamers for the delay earlier than expressing his need to keep away from repeating the crunch mode of 12-hour days he put in when Balatro was approaching launch and acknowledged that he prefers to deal with the work as a interest somewhat than a job.
“I nonetheless love drawing my foolish jokers,” wrote LocalThunk. “I carry round a pocket book that’s now teeming with concepts to implement or take a look at within the recreation, and fortunately I nonetheless think about this my interest, however the prospect of dashing the work and going again into crunch mode to get it out this yr simply felt horrible. I’m working slowly, however I prefer it that approach. I really like getting sucked into rabbit holes and I do not like making an attempt to pressure issues creatively.”
LocalThunk famous that he solely just lately reached 100% of the achievements in his personal recreation, which made him excited in regards to the prospect of doing it once more after the 1.1 replace is full. He additionally assured followers that it’ll occur, however the 1.1 replace will not be launched till it is prepared.
Balatro was one in every of GameSpot’s greatest video games of 2024, and it additionally lined up awards on the 2025 DICE Awards, New York Recreation Awards 2025, and The Recreation Awards 2024 earlier than profitable Recreation of the Yr on the Recreation Builders Alternative Awards.
