Balatrohas proved itself as not only one of the most addicting titles of 2024, but will go down in history as one of the most successfulindie hits, in the same vein as other greats likeCelesteandUndertalewhile earning millions of dollars in its first year alone.
The indie darling has even been awardedDualShocker’s definitive indie of 2024, stealing hundreds of hours of our lives alone.But as expected, this breakout success of a down-low indie title wasn’t only a shock for the indie scene but also for the anonymous solo developer.
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The developer of Balatro, anonymously known online as LocalThunk, recently had aninterview with GQabout what led to the development of Balatro and how the successful indie title has had a very profound impact on their life.
Sure, many of us may like to think that having such huge success on our hands would be nothing but roses, but as LocalThunk has expressed,success can oftendrive a wedge between us and our passions.
Although some developers are made for the limelight, indie developers like LocalThunk tend to stay aside, and it’s clear why. Titles likeUndertale draw massivefan appeal, sometimes more so than your typical AAA release, andhaving all that attention, good and bad, can burden a solo developer.
Regarding their anonymity, LocalThunk stated in the interview, “as the game started getting more and more popular, I started getting more and more thankful that it wasn’t tied to my identity.”
Seeing a developer with this much restraint is pretty humbling, with them even stating, “I like to keep my life as simple as possible.“But even if they want to stay masked by Balatro’s success, the issues of an eruptingvolcano like Balatrocan still cause tremendous damage.
When asked if he regrets the success of Balatro, LocalThunk stated, “Honestly, yeah…” and likewise stated:
Don’t get me wrong – this has changed my life in a lot of amazing ways. I’m so grateful. But I do miss that time before. It was just a hobby that recharged my batteries. Sometimes I think, ‘Maybe I would’ve been happier if I had never released this game to the public.’
The developer admits that Balatro’s success could singlehandedly allow them to retire.It’s earned millions of dollars on Steam alone, and mind you, at a $14.99 price tag and no microtransactions.
Despite all this, the indie developer still poses an interesting dynamic between the success of a game blindsiding the essential passion that goes into game making.
LocalThunk’s Passion Against Balatro’s Success
Now, we don’t mean to imply that any success crushes passion, and LocalThunk appreciates the game’s triumph. That said, the popular mobile port, acollaboration with CD ProjectandCyberpunk, and new additions to the base game have put a lot on the plate for LocalThunk andBalatro.
Amid this chaos, LocalThunk expressed their hope that their gamedev journey’s future would return to the simplicity of the hobby it was before.
If I were to make another game after Balatro, which I’m not really thinking about right now, it would be really cathartic to make it and not show anyone. Put it in a folder on my desktop and leave it there. Just for me.
So, Balatro’s domain of success has undoubtedly been a notable part of LocalThunk’s life. But unfortunately, all success comes at the risk of some downsides.
They remarked something similar on theGame Maker’s Notebook podcastabout how the passion for creating fun games will always drive their ambition, despite whatever success a game may bring them.
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The future of Balatro is looking bright as well, with the developer commenting about plans to bring the game into 2025 with new updates and, of course,new jokers and collaborations.
Even if LocalThunk’s anonymity means we won’t be able to catch them on the street and thank them for their addictiveindie card game, at least they likely know that all fans appreciate their work and are excited about their plans for the future.
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