Balatro is coming to Xbox Game Pass

Looks like it's only available via streaming on PC? It's not letting me boot the game up without a controller connected.

Don't think the proper PC version is up on GP / Win Store yet.

The Xbox page listing doesn't show PC in the platforms area.

So, yeah, you're just getting the Xcloud version for now.


ghsoX72.png
 
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Better to just buy it for $15 bucks and own it forever, easy 100 hours of playtime

Great game. Of course you could just buy it cheaper than renting it from Microsoft, but that's true of a lot of games.

I'm subbed until 2027. Cheapest option for me is playing it on GP. It'll be $5 if I need to rebuy it in 2027.

Nobody's subscribing to GP just to play Balatro.
 
I'm subbed until 2027. Cheapest option for me is playing it on GP. It'll be $5 if I need to rebuy it in 2027.

Nobody's subscribing to GP just to play Balatro.
This is Boomer you are talking to. He isn't familiar with facts or common sense.
 
I'm subbed until 2027. Cheapest option for me is playing it on GP. It'll be $5 if I need to rebuy it in 2027.

Nobody's subscribing to GP just to play Balatro.

Well that's a long lock-in, so yeah makes sense. I found when I had game pass for the three years, near the mid to end of that I started thinking that games that were 5 to 20 bucks when on sale like Hades, Slay The Spire, and Vampire Survivors were good to see if I liked them on game pass but as for putting in the hours for unlocks I was better off doing that in Steam since I was thinking to move off Xbox at some point.
 
I'm subbed until 2027. Cheapest option for me is playing it on GP. It'll be $5 if I need to rebuy it in 2027.

Nobody's subscribing to GP just to play Balatro.

Speak for yourself, just got a 12 month code just for Balatro. That'll teach 'em :messenger_sunglasses:
 
Great, the more ppl learn the ways of the joker, the merrier.

Learning how to synergize jokers and (finally) landing a first win has been one of the most satisfying gaming experiences. And chances are, once you do, you'll get hooked as you unlock more jokers and cards, taking it upon yourself to beat all the challenges and stakes.

Also, reducing this game to just 'poker' or 'solitaire' is an extremely disingenious take.
 
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Use this

Oh wow they made it Play Anywhere. Last time I looked a couple months ago it wasn't.
 
Oh wow they made it Play Anywhere. Last time I looked a couple months ago it wasn't.


The PC and Play Anywhere tags were not there yesterday. Looks like that has been updated recently. Last night when I checked, only the console version was live, the PC version wasn't even up. It seems to be up now.



Revolutionary Revolutionary

The page now shows PC tag as well, so looks like the native PC version is now live instead of it just being the Xcloud version. Give it a go!
 
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Did you watch the video in the OP? It shows off the new Ass Creed game but only the female character.

Well...

1: It's an IGN video. I don't give IGN clicks

2: I kinda don't care for Ass Creed in general. In fact if the new one bombs and Ubisoft goes under, I'd consider it karma for them trying to play off the culture war and weaponize Yusuke for virtue-signaling brownie points.
 
if anyone wants to enable windowed mode on pc



W:\hereUstoreUrGames \Balatro\Content\Assets\conf.lua
_RELEASE_MODE = true
_DEMO = false

function love.conf(t)
t.console = _RELEASE_MODE
t.title = 'Balatro'
t.window.width = 1920
t.window.height = 1080
t.window.fullscreen = false
t.window.minwidth = 50
t.window.minheight = 50

local support_kbm = love._os == "gdkpc"

t.modules.keyboard = support_kbm -- Enable the keyboard module (boolean)
t.modules.mouse = support_kbm -- Enable the mouse module (boolean)
end


courtesy of @Deagletime on reddit
 
Had a couple fun games last night. The gameplay doesn't really change all THAT much, but it's endlessly fun to play your hand and just see the big numbers go up. It's basically just a dopamine IV. I did encounter some more fun cards though, hologram, suitless, etc. Will definitely pick it up on a sale. Very fun.
 
It is total insanity that you can stream this on your phone via gamepass, but they haven't enabled touch control so you need a controller for it!
 
I don't see the attraction. The game even orders your cards for you to make it really obvious what you can play.

Got to one boss blind where cards were dealt face down and thought fuck that - waste of time.
 
It is total insanity that you can stream this on your phone via gamepass, but they haven't enabled touch control so you need a controller for it!
Hoping they had it asap, touch control in bed sounds nice. ;)

Also is anyone else stuck on green difficulty?!
 
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I don't see the attraction. The game even orders your cards for you to make it really obvious what you can play.

Got to one boss blind where cards were dealt face down and thought fuck that - waste of time.

It is really popular though, do you think everyone else is wrong or that you're missing something? One to ponder, perhaps.
 
Nothing sinister - just not my cup of tea. An interesting and new take on creating a card game, but I'd rather waste my time shooting things 😀

I can totally respect that! I must admit to not feeling Belatro at first either, but it's worth persevering, imo!
 
I don't see the attraction. The game even orders your cards for you to make it really obvious what you can play.

Got to one boss blind where cards were dealt face down and thought fuck that - waste of time.
Encountered the first challenge and gave up 😂

The Office I Give Up GIF
 
Encountered the first challenge and gave up 😂

The Office I Give Up GIF
Only I didn't give up. I randomly selected 5 cards with no way of knowing what they were 3 times, and lucked my way through it. It was at that point I thought 'nah - not for me'.

Giving up would imply I wanted to play it but couldn't continue.

Dropping it due to lack of interest is much more apt.

(And this was in the nomination list for GOTY - yikes!)
 
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Only I didn't give up. I randomly selected 5 cards with no way of knowing what they were 3 times, and lucked my way through it. It was at that point I thought 'nah - not for me'.

Giving up would imply I wanted to play it but couldn't continue.

Dropping it due to lack of interest is much more apt.

(And this was in the nomination list for GOTY - yikes!)

You were probably on the easiest difficulty though, and playing for the first time I dont think you have a clue what the game is about
 
You were probably on the easiest difficulty though, and playing for the first time I dont think you have a clue what the game is about
I appreciate not directed at me however I'm in the same boat but saying don't know what the game is about, below is the beginning of a round, 52 cards and a shit deal.

What do you suggest? Playing the pair and getting fuck all points?

Discarding the 9,7,5 and 4 on the basis of getting better cards? Continue to get shit hands I'm not even going to break 300 this run.

I'd like to think I have a decent understanding of poker however unless I'm missing something with the game and you somehow start with more than 52 cards? Or you carry the money over? Happy to be educated. I just don't see the 'digital crack' that's all.


gzVQbR6.jpeg
 
I appreciate not directed at me however I'm in the same boat but saying don't know what the game is about, below is the beginning of a round, 52 cards and a shit deal.

What do you suggest? Playing the pair and getting fuck all points?

Discarding the 9,7,5 and 4 on the basis of getting better cards? Continue to get shit hands I'm not even going to break 300 this run.

I'd like to think I have a decent understanding of poker however unless I'm missing something with the game and you somehow start with more than 52 cards? Or you carry the money over? Happy to be educated. I just don't see the 'digital crack' that's all.


gzVQbR6.jpeg

For small binds at the start before your joker build starts to take shape you want to play hands that have the highest points totals possible.

In the example you've shown I'd sort hand by suit and discard everything that isn't a diamond until you get a flush.

Then once you get to the shop, allow the jokers that appear to dictate the direction you go in.
 
I appreciate not directed at me however I'm in the same boat but saying don't know what the game is about, below is the beginning of a round, 52 cards and a shit deal.

What do you suggest? Playing the pair and getting fuck all points?

Discarding the 9,7,5 and 4 on the basis of getting better cards? Continue to get shit hands I'm not even going to break 300 this run.

I'd like to think I have a decent understanding of poker however unless I'm missing something with the game and you somehow start with more than 52 cards? Or you carry the money over? Happy to be educated. I just don't see the 'digital crack' that's all.


gzVQbR6.jpeg
There are a lot of ways to play, I usually try to go for a flush but thats not even the best strategy at all. But Ive unlocked a bunch of more difficulties and beat a bunch of different decks. But really im.not even that good at the game either, I just love that there are a lot of ways to get crazy scores.

Here are some great tips
 
So youre just streaming the Xbox version? Does that mean no mouse support?
What? Play Anywhere means if you own the Xbox version you also own a copy on PC that you install and play natively.

I know, I know.. Fuck Xbox for not forcing people to buy a game twice.
 
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What? Play Anywhere means if you own the Xbox version you also own a copy on PC that you install and play natively.

I know, I know.. Fuck Xbox for not forcing people to buy a game twice.
Oh I thought this thread was about game pass. Earlier people were saying it wasn't part of PC game pass. That's all I was asking. I was thinking the only way to play via game pass was via cloud streaming if I wanted to play on PC.
 
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Oh I thought this thread was about game pass. Earlier people were saying it wasn't part of PC game pass. That's all I was asking. I was thinking the only way to play via game pass was via cloud streaming if I wanted to play on PC.
It is on PC Game Pass. People like to spread Game Pass FUD.
 
I appreciate not directed at me however I'm in the same boat but saying don't know what the game is about, below is the beginning of a round, 52 cards and a shit deal.

What do you suggest? Playing the pair and getting fuck all points?

Discarding the 9,7,5 and 4 on the basis of getting better cards? Continue to get shit hands I'm not even going to break 300 this run.

I'd like to think I have a decent understanding of poker however unless I'm missing something with the game and you somehow start with more than 52 cards? Or you carry the money over? Happy to be educated. I just don't see the 'digital crack' that's all.


gzVQbR6.jpeg
You'll retry runs every now and then. It's easy to restart. Options and New Run. Like previously stated, you'll want to play a flush, full house, a straight for those first couple binds. Money is very important because you'll get Jokers, Tarot, and Spectral cards. You'll also be able to buy individual cards to add to your deck and those have modifiers on them. You want to play your hands according to your Jokers because they will boost your hand. You'll also level up the hands played. It takes some time, but it's very random, expect to lose, and you'll unlock better Jokers. For the first few binds save as much money, don't skip binds, and you'll eventually get it down. You could win with a high card or a pair. It changes based upon your Jokers and what you get. You will want to discard your cards and maybe sort them by suit at first until you narrow down which hand helps you.

I am still learning about this game. I'd like to win at higher binds besides those initial runs. I've won a handful and lost a lot.

IMG-2240.png

In this round all my cards count as face cards, face cards are retriggered, and every time I use a Tarot card my Joker gets a + to its multiplier. Thats just an example.
 
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I appreciate not directed at me however I'm in the same boat but saying don't know what the game is about, below is the beginning of a round, 52 cards and a shit deal.

What do you suggest? Playing the pair and getting fuck all points?

Discarding the 9,7,5 and 4 on the basis of getting better cards? Continue to get shit hands I'm not even going to break 300 this run.

I'd like to think I have a decent understanding of poker however unless I'm missing something with the game and you somehow start with more than 52 cards? Or you carry the money over? Happy to be educated. I just don't see the 'digital crack' that's all.


gzVQbR6.jpeg
Discard all card that are not diamonds there. You have 4 discards left thats a maximum of throwing away 20 none diamond cards, almost half the deck. Theres 10 diamond cards left in the deck, you'll hit a flush easily ( 5 cards of the same suit). With no jokers at the start its important to play for the best possible hand, and also therefore play the least amount of hands to score the most cash to use in the shop.

Turn the speed of the game upto max, its much better.

You can check what cards are remaining in the deck by clicking on it.

The Jokers you get will shape what hands you need to play. For example one joker lets you make flushes with any combination of diamonds and hearts making flushes very easy to get. Then other jokers sinergise with each other to get monster scores, which youll need to outscore the ever growning blinds.

Postion jokers that affect your muliplier on the right and ones that give you more chips on the left of the joker window.

If you fuck it this early just start again, no bother.

Theres loads more to it but once it clicks its very difficult to put down.

Edit: Sorry now i see a couple of people have already explained the game a bit.
 
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You'll retry runs every now and then. It's easy to restart. Options and New Run. Like previously stated, you'll want to play a flush, full house, a straight for those first couple binds. Money is very important because you'll get Jokers, Tarot, and Spectral cards. You'll also be able to buy individual cards to add to your deck and those have modifiers on them. You want to play your hands according to your Jokers because they will boost your hand. You'll also level up the hands played. It takes some time, but it's very random, expect to lose, and you'll unlock better Jokers. For the first few binds save as much money, don't skip binds, and you'll eventually get it down. You could win with a high card or a pair. It changes based upon your Jokers and what you get. You will want to discard your cards and maybe sort them by suit at first until you narrow down which hand helps you.

I am still learning about this game. I'd like to win at higher binds besides those initial runs. I've won a handful and lost a lot.

IMG-2240.png

In this round all my cards count as face cards, face cards are retriggered, and every time I use a Tarot card my Joker gets a + to its multiplier. Thats just an example.
PSA for new players: You can rearrange the jokers to increase your score. Many jokers will activate after all the cards are scored, and they do so from left to right. So for this particular hand, you want Ramen on the very right side because it's Xmult will activate after the Fortune Teller's and Mystic Summit's +mult. Also, another way to optimize this hand would be to use the two tarot cards in possession to further enhance the Fortune Teller, though at this point it probably isn't necessary given the current score and keeping these cards will make it so that they don't appear in the shop or tarot packs.
 
PSA for new players: You can rearrange the jokers to increase your score. Many jokers will activate after all the cards are scored, and they do so from left to right. So for this particular hand, you want Ramen on the very right side because it's Xmult will activate after the Fortune Teller's and Mystic Summit's +mult. Also, another way to optimize this hand would be to use the two tarot cards in possession to further enhance the Fortune Teller, though at this point it probably isn't necessary given the current score and keeping these cards will make it so that they don't appear in the shop or tarot packs.

Yep, all jokers that apply X multipliers should go last (the furthest slots to the right).
 
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