Balatro 1.1 update delayed

The first major content update for last year's breakout indie hit, Balatro, has been delayed. The game's solo developer, who goes by ‘Localthunk', has announced that the 1.1 update will no longer be released in 2025 and has been pushed back to an indefinite date to allow for a healthier development pace.

In a blog post titled “I'm Slow”, Localthunk explained that the update had to be delayed because he needed more time and wanted to avoid the intense crunch that led to him being “well and truly burned out” after the game's hugely successful launch. “I'm a hobbyist developer at heart and I love to tinker”, he said, explaining that he has now “chosen to only work on the game like I did when the project began”, which is a much slower pace than the 12-hour days he was working previously.

As a result, the new official timeline for the 1.1 update is “it's done when it's done”. While apologising to fans for the delay and admitting he probably shouldn't have announced any date for the update, the developer reiterated that it's still coming out. He also confirmed that when it does arrive, it will be free.

Balatro was a surprise indie smash hit, a poker-themed roguelike that garnered millions with its addictive deck-building gameplay. While the delay of its first major update might be disappointing, the developer's transparency will likely earn a great deal of respect from the community. It's a welcome reminder that a healthier development process almost always leads to a better game in the end.

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KitGuru says: Have you played Balatro? What are you expecting from the game's update 1.1?

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