Players eagerly awaiting fresh content for Balatro, the clever poker roguelike that captivated many in 2024, might need to adjust their expectations. The game’s solo developer has announced a significant delay for the anticipated 1.1 update, pushing its release well beyond this year.
LocalThunk, the mind behind Balatro, shared an apology on his personal blog for the hold-up. He openly admitted that version 1.1 simply won’t be ready by the end of 2025. This means players can expect it in 2026 or later. He explained that his pace of work has slowed down a lot compared to the period before the game first launched.
The developer recounted the intense crunch he faced during Balatro’s creation. He spent 12 hours a day pushing out version 1.0.1. Right after that, the challenging task of porting the game to mobile devices hit him hard. This demanding schedule led to a complete and immediate burnout.
LocalThunk took a much-needed long break to recover. He only started working on the game again in early 2025. Now, he operates at a much slower speed, approaching it more like a hobbyist for just a few hours daily. This method, he shared, is something he genuinely enjoys. While the wait for 1.1 continues, he assured fans it won’t be the final update for Balatro. The new release timeline for 1.1 is simply “when it’s done,” and it will be a free download for everyone who owns the game.
For those new to the game, Balatro is currently available. You can find it on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile platforms.