Balatro creator LocalThunk has revealed a substantial batch of new details about the long-awaited 1.1 update, including at least four new Jokers, a new voucher and a gameplay trigger based on cards being drawn into the player’s hand. The developer shared the information through Balatro’s official Discord, where he has recently begun discussing the update more openly as development continues. There is still no release date for version 1.1.
One of the biggest additions is a new trigger condition described as “when a card is drawn to hand.” Unlike effects that activate when a card is played or scored, the new condition can respond as cards enter the player’s hand during a round. LocalThunk also said the trigger applies when opening Tarot and Spectral packs, potentially allowing future Jokers and other effects to interact with card draws in situations that currently offer fewer opportunities for triggered abilities.
To illustrate the concept, LocalThunk gave a hypothetical example of an “Ace up your Sleeve” Joker that could provide +1 Mult whenever an Ace is drawn into the hand. The example does not necessarily confirm that exact Joker will appear in the finished update, but it demonstrates how the new trigger could create another layer of build interactions. Balatro’s scoring system already revolves heavily around combining Joker effects with specific card ranks, suits and enhancements, so triggering abilities before cards are even played could open another route for specialized builds.
LocalThunk also confirmed that 1.1 will contain at least four new Jokers, an increase from earlier indications that at least two were planned. One Joker shown with placeholder artwork is called Survey, represented for now by a smiling face. The developer only cryptically described its function as doing something involving face cards, leaving its final mechanics undisclosed while testing continues.
Vouchers are receiving attention as well. A new Tier 2 voucher named Lunker is being added, although LocalThunk has not publicly revealed its effect. The system responsible for selecting upgraded vouchers is also being adjusted so that owning Tier 1 vouchers from incomplete voucher sets can increase the likelihood of their corresponding Tier 2 upgrades appearing, reducing some of the randomness involved in pursuing voucher combinations.
The controversial Blue Stake difficulty modifier is also being reworked. LocalThunk had previously developed a replacement for its current behavior but said he discarded that version several months ago and created another approach that he believes fits the game better. Exact details of the new Blue Stake have not been revealed, but the rework will apply automatically once version 1.1 arrives.
Players will have more control over the update’s entirely new content. LocalThunk says a profile checkbox will allow the new 1.1 content, such as additional Jokers and vouchers, to be switched off while retaining the update’s balance changes and reworks. Achievements will remain obtainable with the new-content option disabled, giving players a way to experience the revised underlying game without expanding the item pool.
PC players concerned about mods will also retain access to the older version. LocalThunk plans to keep a selectable 1.0 branch available through Steam after 1.1 releases so legacy mods that have not been updated can continue functioning. That should provide a transition period for Balatro’s modding community rather than immediately making older projects incompatible with the new version.
LocalThunk currently expects version 1.1.0 to be followed by a 1.1.1 update a month or two later containing balance adjustments and fixes based on how players respond. He has said there is no 1.2 currently planned and has again ruled out an official multiplayer mode, although development plans could always change later. The immediate focus remains completing and refining 1.1.
The update was originally expected in 2025 before LocalThunk abandoned that deadline. In September 2025, he explained that burnout following Balatro’s launch and mobile development had led him to return to a slower, healthier development pace, promising that the free update would arrive on all platforms when it was ready. His latest Discord comments maintain that approach: development is continuing, more details may be shared over time, but there will be no new launch window until LocalThunk is comfortable committing to one.
