The creator of Balatro has explained that his massively popular poker game contains no microtransactions or advertisements because seeing titles with such features "makes me want to toss my computer in the dishwasher and run the heavy-duty cycle."
"The real reason Balatro doesn't have microtransactions, season passes, ads, or dozens of DLC packs isn't purely about ethics—it's that playing other games stuffed with those elements makes me want to dump my PC in the dishwasher and turn it on," Localthunk shared on Bluesky.
"I understand why developers include them, but you're sabotaging the user experience the moment players are greeted with a flood of distractions instead of the actual gameplay."
When asked if he was specifically calling out the free-to-play digital card game Marvel Snap, Localthunk clarified: "This isn't aimed directly at them, but I'm not giving them a free pass either. If a game is free-to-play, there's about a 95% chance its main menu interface is more convoluted than the in-game mechanics."
Microtransactions remain a contentious issue in the gaming world, with some developers and publishers facing accusations of exploiting players through predatory in-game stores. Authorities like Norway's consumer council have described loot boxes as exploitative and predatory, leading to bans in countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands. In the United States, some senators have even pushed to outlaw what they call 'greedy' in-app purchases following FTC investigations.
Just last week, Activision faced a backlash after quietly inserting ads into the loadout menus of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone. The company later pulled the ads, stating they were part of a "feature test" that went live "by mistake."
Localthunk also recently felt the need to publicly condemn AI art after a subreddit moderator falsely claimed that neither the developer nor publisher Playstack had a problem with AI-generated imagery. Localthunk stated clearly: "Playstack and I do not support AI 'art.' I don't use it in my game, and I believe it causes genuine harm to artists everywhere. The mod's views do not represent Playstack's or my own position. We have since removed that moderator from the team."
Balatro is the wildly popular deck-building game where you play forbidden poker hands, uncover game-altering jokers, and unleash thrilling, over-the-top combos. IGN's Balatro review scored it a 9/10, praising it as: "An endlessly satisfying deck-building poker roguelike, Balatro is the kind of addictive fun that can completely derail your weekend plans."
