The European video game rating system, PEGI (Pan European Game Information), has downgraded the rating of Balatro, a popular roguelike game, from 18 to 12 after an appeal. The game, which features poker imagery and poker hands but does not allow actual gambling, was initially rated PEGI 3 but was later bumped up to PEGI 18 due to its "prominent gambling imagery and material that instructs about gambling."

The rating change comes after an appeal submitted by Sold Out Sales & Marketing, which rebranded to Fireshine Games in 2022 and publishes Balatro's physical edition. According to PEGI, "The Complaints Board concluded that, although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained mitigating fantastical elements that warranted a PEGI 12 rating."

This decision has significant implications for the gaming industry, as it sets a precedent for games that feature gambling imagery but do not allow real-world gambling. PEGI is now planning to develop more granular classification criteria to address games with gambling themes, which will include a PEGI 12 rating for games that feature simulated gambling but do not promote or teach real-world gambling skills.

In a statement to The Verge, Playstack communications director Wout van Halderen expressed the company's pleasure with the PEGI Complaints Board's decision, saying, "We applaud the PEGI Experts Group on their commitment to develop a more granular set of classification criteria as indie games continue to stretch into new ideas and concepts. We believe it is a sign of a healthy classification board that it sticks true to its principles but is also able to self-reflect."

This decision also affects another game, Luck Be A Landlord, a roguelike with slot machine mechanics but no real-world gambling, which has also been downgraded from PEGI 18 to PEGI 12 following an appeal submitted by Fangamer. PEGI's Complaints Board reasoned that the same arguments applied to Luck Be A Landlord, as the game features a slot machine mechanic but does not teach or promote real-world gambling skills.

The development of more nuanced classification criteria is a positive step for the gaming industry, as it allows for a more accurate and fair evaluation of games that feature gambling themes. This change will enable indie developers, such as LocalThunk, to bring their creative ideas to life without being unfairly restricted by overly broad rating categories.

In conclusion, the downgrading of Balatro's PEGI rating from 18 to 12 is a significant development in the gaming industry, as it sets a precedent for games that feature gambling imagery but do not allow real-world gambling. The development of more granular classification criteria will enable a more accurate and fair evaluation of games, allowing indie developers to bring their creative ideas to life.