The developer of Balatro, LocalThunk, has announced that the much-anticipated 1.1 update for the game will not be released this year. Despite the game’s overwhelming success in 2024, which marked a transformative period for the solo developer, he has decided to delay the update to avoid the intense work-related stress he experienced prior to the game’s launch.
In a detailed message on his official blog, LocalThunk expressed his frustration with the pressure of crunch time, saying he prefers to treat game development as a hobby rather than a job. He emphasized the importance of taking things slowly to maintain creativity and avoid burnout. He still carries a notebook filled with ideas and is excited about future developments but insists that rushing the update would not be productive.
Recently, LocalThunk achieved 100% completion of his own game, which reignited his enthusiasm for creating additional content. Although he reassured fans that the 1.1 update will eventually be released, he made it clear it would be ready only when it’s fully polished.
Balatro received accolades throughout 2024, including recognition as one of GameSpot’s best games of the year and several awards at prestigious events such as the DICE Awards and The Game Awards. It even took home Game of the Year at the Game Developers Choice Awards.
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