Developer LocalThunk finds absence of microtransactions in Balatro game commendable, comparing it to a strong resentment towards his computer, implying frustration that would lead him to destroy it by washing it in the dishwasher with cleaning utensils.
Balatro, at first glance, looks like it'd be brimming with in-game purchases: Additional card backs, bizarre backgrounds, boosters - you name it. But there's a twist - it doesn't have any of that: no microtransactions, no season passes, no hassle. The only exception is the "Friends of Jimbo collaboration packs," and guess what? They're completely free. So, why the unusual move?
"Let's be real, the last thing I want is to make a game filled with bullshit ads and a million DLCs that make you want to throw your computer out the window," LocalThunk, the man behind Balatro, candidly explained on Bluesky (thanks to GamesRadar for the heads-up).
"Yeah, I get why developers include those things, but why ruin the user experience for players by overwhelming them with unnecessary nonsense?" he continued.
He's dead on, and while you might argue that selling a couple million copies in a year makes it easier to take the moral high ground, the fact is that Balatro was designed differently from the get-go: You pay your hard-earned cash, you get your game. It's entirely possible to integrate microtransactions into games without cluttering the UI or ruining the gaming experience, but the relentless drive to monetize often turns that dream into a nightmare.
"Let's be honest, if a game is free-to-play, the main menu UI is probably more confusing than the actual gameplay," LocalThunk pointed out in a follow-up post.
Apart from that, LocalThunk also shared a bit of Balatro trivia: The art for the "Ride the Bus" joker was inspired by a bus stop sign outside his apartment in his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan, where he was living while working on Balatro.
"Whenever I see that joker, it reminds me of my old apartment," LocalThunk mused.
Not for nothing, Regina was once nicknamed "the city that rhymes with fun," though it soon became apparent that the connection to "fun" was entirely unintentional. Despite that, LocalThunk is still a fan: "I freakin' love it there."
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Written by Andy Chalk
Andy has been gaming since the dawn of the PC era, starting with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS-80. He's survived through the golden days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, run a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a deep love for RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. Joining the PC Gamer team in 2007, he covers all aspects of the gaming industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.
- LocalThunk, the creator of Balatro, expressed his dislike for games filled with unnecessary microtransactions, season passes, and other DLCs that could negatively affect the user experience.
- Balatro was designed from the beginning to be a game where players pay for the game and receive it without any extra purchases, like microtransactions or season passes.
- Although some developers might include microtransactions to generate revenue, LocalThunk believes that they often clutter the UI or ruin the gaming experience.
- According to LocalThunk, free-to-play games often have more confusing main menus than the actual gameplay.
- In a nod to his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan, the art for the "Ride the Bus" joker in Balatro was inspired by a bus stop sign outside his apartment.
