LocalThunk, the solo developer behind breakout deck-builder Balatro, has confirmed that the anticipated 1.1 update will not release in 2025. The clarification comes after months of community speculation, tempering expectations and suggesting the patch could arrive in early 2026 or later. The developer emphasized that scope, certification, and cross-platform parity will dictate timing—not the calendar. Incremental hotfixes and small quality-of-life updates will continue this year, but nothing marketed as 1.1 is planned.
Key Points from LocalThunk
- No 2025 launch: The 1.1 update will not ship this year.
- Early 2026 soft target: Subject to testing, balancing, and certification.
- PC-first testing: Limited public beta ahead of a synchronized console release.
- Ongoing support: Hotfixes and minor patches will continue under the current 1.0.x branch.
- Scope focus: Balance adjustments, curated new content, expanded accessibility, and performance tuning—no multiplayer or monetization changes.
Why the Delay Matters
The decision underscores the realities of solo development and the need for sustainable pacing. LocalThunk cited:
- Concurrent maintenance on hotfixes and crashes.
- Cross-platform parity, which multiplies QA and support workload.
- Localization and pipeline upgrades to support long-term stability.
- Certification calendars from platform holders, with months-long queues.
- Player guarantees for backward-compatible saves and consistent performance.
What Players Should Do Now
- Back up saves: Create off-device copies of your save folder.
- Disable auto-updates: Prevent unexpected version shifts.
- Snapshot mods: Keep lists and configs for future compatibility.
- Reset expectations: Treat the current balance as the long-term baseline.
For creators:
- Label all content with the current version (e.g., “v1.0.x”).
- Focus on evergreen content like deck primers, odds breakdowns, or challenge seeds.
- Plan for batch recording and disclaimers on mod showcases.
Community Best Practices
- Track only verified sources—official posts, storefront patch notes, or reputable outlets.
- Use tags like [Confirmed], [Pending], and [Speculation] in discussions.
- Pin FAQs and rotate curators to reduce rumor fatigue.
- Summarize long threads into bullet recaps to cut noise.
By removing 2025 from the table, LocalThunk has clarified expectations without committing prematurely, signaling that quality and parity matter more than deadlines. For Balatro fans, patience is the best play—1.1 will land “when it’s ready.”
