Summary
- Balatro, a popular roguelike deckbuilder, is now on PC Game Pass.
- Balatro was shadow dropped on Xbox Game Pass for console on February 24, but wasn't available for PC subscribers.
- Xbox Game Pass subscribers enjoyed a great February with new additions like Far Cry New Dawn and Avowed.
LocalThunk’s popular roguelike deckbuilder Balatro is now available on PC Game Pass, an enticing addition for subscribers who haven’t yet jumped into its engaging gameplay loop. Released in February 2024, the poker-themed digital card game was an instant hit, and Balatro is now one of the top played games on Steam Deck and even took home a number of awards.
The addictive game has often been compared to Mega Crit’s well-received Slay the Spire, which has a highly anticipated sequel coming sometime this year. Fans of one are very likely to enjoy the other, and even LocalThunk seems to agree. Balatro features a deck based on Slay the Spire and has also done crossovers with some other unexpected but welcome IPs like Stardew Valley, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Witcher 3.
New Xbox Game Pass Game Confirmed for May 28
Another game is confirmed for the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, with this one scheduled to arrive on May 28.
Balatro was shadow dropped on Xbox Game Pass on February 24. While a lot of subscribers were thrilled to see it come to the service, many fans were disappointed that it was only available on console. It only took a couple of days for that speedbump to be amended, though, as the game has now been added to PC Game Pass. Much like its addition to the subscription service in the first place, this change came about with no prior announcement.
Xbox Game Pass Adds More Options for Fans of Balatro
Some people are also reporting that Balatro may be an Xbox Play Anywhere title, as the game is showing up as “owned” even though they only have the console version. This isn’t yet confirmed, however, and the deckbuilder is not labeled Play Anywhere. For those unfamiliar, Xbox Play Anywhere is an initiative launched by Microsoft in 2016 with the goal of allowing owners of certain digital games to play them on console or PC, without having to buy them twice. Currently, approximately 440 Xbox titles have this label.
February was a relatively good month for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Far Cry New Dawn kicked the month off on February 4, Avowed was available day one on February 18, and Watch Dogs: Legion joined the Game Pass lineup on the 26th. Additionally, three games that originally launched on the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier – Starfield, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, and Another Crab’s Treasure — moved to the Standard tier on February 5, meaning they’re now playable by all subscribers.
