Balatro/PlaystackBalatro fans hoping for the long-anticipated 1.1 update will have to wait longer, as developer LocalThunk has confirmed it will not release in 2025 as previously planned.
In a statement, the solo developer apologized for setting a deadline at all, explaining that the process of working under crunch during and after launch led to burnout. After shipping Balatro 1.0 in February 2024, LocalThunk immediately followed with a balance patch and then the mobile port, which released later that year.
After experiencing burnout with the release of the mobile game, Localthunk began easing back into development in 2025 but decided to treat the project once again as a hobby, dedicating only a few hours per day. The slower pace means 1.1 is still in progress, but without a set release date.
“I am working slowly, but I like it that way,” he said. “I love getting sucked into rabbit holes, and I don’t like trying to force things creatively. I have never, before Balatro, set a deadline for any of my creative projects and I now realize how important that is for my process.”
Balatro/PlaystackFree update still planned
LocalThunk reassured players that the update will arrive eventually, with new content and adjustments, and will be available for free across all platforms once complete. The developer emphasized a desire to keep Balatro development sustainable, saying the update will launch only when ready.
“So I’m apologizing here, now, to you. I won’t be making the 2025 deadline I said I would. Balatro 1.1 will still come out, of that I am certain, but the new timeline is going to be it’s done when it’s done,” he said.
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This isn’t the first time a developer has decided to postpone a game or update in an effort to enjoy what they’re doing. Team Cherry, the developers of Silksong, revealed in an interview that the long-awaited sequel took years to create because they kept drawing things they wanted to add into the game.