Balatro has finally gotten reclassified in Europe.
Last December, developer and creator LocalThunk revealed that the European video games rating organization PEGI rated Balatro as 18+, their equivalent of the ESRB’s AO 18+ rating. LocalThunk argued the fairness and validity of the rating, which PEGI claims was because Balatro had some gambling simulation elements. He pointed out that PEGI rated the FIFA/EA Sports FC at 3+, even though they had real life gambling in their microtransactions.
As reported by TheGamer, PEGI has changed their mind and reclassified Balatro down to a 12+ rating. In LocalThunk’s words:
“After an appeal from my publisher, Balatro has been reclassified by PEGI from 18+ to 12+
This is a good step from PEGI – bringing nuance to their ratings criteria that used to be 18+ or nothing. I hope this change will allow developers to create without being unfairly punished.”
Subsequently, PEGI published an explanation for their decision, stating:
“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.”
But that’s not all. PEGI also reclassified another game, Luck Be A Landlord, from 18+ to 12+ for similar reasons. Again, to quote PEGI:
“Although the game features a slot machine mechanic, there were no specific transferable gambling skills and the game can therefore be rated PEGI 12+.”
PEGI ends their announcement with an explanation on how and why they are changing the way they are rating video games that depict gambling:
“PEGI acknowledges the finding of the Complaints Board appeals panel in regards to amending the classifications of these games. The PEGI system continuously evolves in line with cultural expectations and the guidance of independent experts who support our assessment process. PEGI strives to apply ratings criteria fairly, consistently, and transparently to ensure that audiences understand the type of content that is present in games.
At this moment, any teaching or glamorisation of simulated gambling automatically leads to a PEGI 18 rating. On the basis of these appeals, the PEGI Experts Group will develop a more granular set of classification criteria to handle gambling themes and the simulation, teaching and glamorisation of gambling in different age categories, which will now include 12 but also keep 18 as an age category for games that simulate gambling typically played in casinos and betting halls.”
As LocalThunk has stated, this is an overall positive move for the video games industry in Europe. While one may still reasonably question if PEGI is doing enough to protect younger gamers from games with real life gambling in its monetization, they at least properly understand that certain fictional depictions of gambling shouldn’t be penalized, for just depicting or simulating gambling. The truth is, many other countries and regions could stand to make similar reassessments of their rules for rating video games as well. At least in this instance, we took one definite step forward.
