In a recent conversation with Bloomberg, the creator of Balatro, LocalThunk, shared insights regarding the upcoming gameplay update labeled 1.1, scheduled for later this year. This update was initially hinted at back in August by the publisher, Playstack, which indicated that more content for Balatro would arrive in 2025.

LocalThunk, who is notably secretive and remains anonymous, expressed hesitance in divulging too much about the impending changes. “I’m not going to get into exactly what’s going to be in it, because that also means I can’t pivot if something new doesn’t work,” he remarked. “I think it’s healthier if I keep my cards close to my chest, then give you the best version of whatever this new content update is.”

Despite the reserved nature of his comments, he did confirm that update 1.1 will introduce new jokers and remodel a previously existing card, Matador. Currently, Matador grants a cash boost whenever a player’s hand triggers a boss blind ability, but the Balatro Wiki notes that it “doesn’t work with all boss blinds and can sometimes yield unexpected results.” Additionally, a change will be applied to the blue stake, a difficulty modifier that reduces the number of discards by one.

LocalThunk emphasized his active engagement with the game, noting, “I play a lot too, and notice flaws all the time.” He is still contemplating the potential for further tweaks post 1.1, stating, “I don’t have any immediate game ideas I want to pursue; I often think about other projects but remind myself that I need to focus on the tasks at hand.”

Balatro recently secured the game of the year award for 2024, triumphing over competitors like Shadow of the Erdtree, Helldivers 2, and Metaphor: ReFantazio.