Balatro and others re-rated by PEGI after successful appeal, prompting a rule revision

Balatro, the wildly successful indie game that portrays a mystical and decidedly fictionalized deck of cards dependent on the magical powers of various Joker cards, has finally had its age rating re-evaluated in Europe by the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) board months after it was classified as a game for adults. The PEGI board announced today that they are revising the game’s rating from PEGI 18 — which effectively means inappropriate for children under 18 — to PEGI 12, due to complaints. These complaints came from the game’s Special Edition publisher, Fireshine Games, which implored the PEGI board to actually re-examine the content of Balatro. The title’s PEGI 18 rating was given after the board attached a descriptor of “Gambling,” which does not accurately portray the mechanics within. After a reevaluation, PEGI agreed with these complaints in a statement made today. “The PEGI 18 rating for the game ‘Balatro’ has been changed to a PEGI 12 following a successful appeal submi ... Read full article.