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| The pictured joker is reportedly called "Survey" that "does the thing with the face cards," in the words of LocalThunk |
Balatro creator LocalThunk is back with fresh details about the highly anticipated 1.1 update, and this time he's brought receipts. Just days after teasing that the patch was "getting closer," the developer returned to the Balatro Discord to share what he jokingly called a "massive leak" — and the community is absolutely here for it.
New Jokers Confirmed: At Least Four Coming in Balatro 1.1
The biggest reveal? The number of new Jokers heading to the game. LocalThunk had previously committed to at least two, but he's now confirmed that players can expect at least four. He didn't stop there, either. The developer also pulled back the curtain on a brand-new trigger condition: "when a card is drawn to hand." This mechanic will fire during rounds as well as inside Tarot and Spectral packs, opening up fresh strategic possibilities for deck builders.
Vouchers Are Getting a Makeover
It's not just Jokers that are changing. Vouchers are receiving some attention too. A new tier 2 voucher called Lunker is officially in the mix, and the way vouchers are drawn is getting a subtle but significant tweak. The draw will lean more heavily toward tier 2 options, weighted by how many tier 1 vouchers you already hold across incomplete sets. It's a change that should make voucher progression feel more rewarding and less random.
The Blue Stake rework has also been reworked — again. LocalThunk scrapped his earlier version a few months back in favor of one he says simply fits better. For players who've been following development closely, it's a reminder that the developer isn't afraid to iterate until something feels right.
For more details and community discussion, check out the original posts on Discord and Reddit.
How the Update Will Roll Out
LocalThunk was careful to clarify how these changes will reach players. The Blue Stake and Joker reworks will apply to everyone, but the actual new content — the new Jokers, the new trigger condition, and presumably the new voucher — will sit behind a profile checkbox. Importantly, achievements will still be earnable even with that checkbox switched off, so completionists don't need to worry about missing out.
Steam users will also get a selectable 1.0 branch after the update goes live. That's a thoughtful move aimed at keeping legacy mods functional, which should please the game's dedicated modding scene.
What's Next for Balatro — and What's Not
Beyond the 1.1 update itself, LocalThunk set some realistic expectations. He expects 1.1.0 to be followed by a 1.1.1 balance pass roughly a month or two later. Don't hold your breath for anything beyond that: there's no 1.2 in the works, and still no official multiplayer mode on the horizon.
The developer also got candid about the pressure of announcing dates. He admitted he should never have given a launch window when he was the only person working on the game — and when nobody had actually asked him to. It's a refreshingly honest moment from a solo developer who's clearly learned a thing or two about managing expectations.
The good news? LocalThunk says he'll keep dropping leaks and tidbits as development continues. Just don't expect him to commit to a launch window for the Balatro 1.1 update anytime soon. And honestly, after this latest batch of reveals, the community probably doesn't mind waiting a little longer.
Balatro 1.1 news and leaks!
by u/trevorade in balatro