Balatro on Graphene

rbtstp

Hi all, I've just installed Graphene on my pixel 8, the only thing that hasn't worked perfectly is trying to install the game Balatro from the play store. It worked fine on my stock pixel 8 but now running Graphene the play store has the error "this phone isn't compatible with this app".

Has anyone encountered this and have a workaround?
TIA

treequell

I can confirm. It looks like the app is using the Play Integrity API, at least to install the app from the Play Store, which GrapheneOS does not pass. One option would to try installing the app via Aurora Store. It's possible that only app installation from Play Store checks the Play Integrity API, and that once you have the app installed from another app store like Aurora it perhaps could run fine. Can't guarantee as I haven't tested but might be worth trying.

rbtstp

treequell thanks mate, installing from Aurora works

spl4tt

Ah, install via aurora works indeed. Don't get why play store itself doesn't allow the install though

fid02

spl4tt Don't get why play store itself doesn't allow the install though

It's likely using the Play Integrity API for its Play Store entry, but not for the app itself. More info: https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/8330-app-compatibility-with-grapheneos#:~:text=issuecomment%2D1766887298%29-,Not%20compatible,-Due%20to%20the

treequell

Make sure that with Aurora you use a throwaway Google account, as it will eventually get banned by Google.

spl4tt

treequell well, balatro isn't free, so you can only download it if you buy it.
Are you sure the google account gets banned? I'm using it with mine currently

rocktato

spl4tt Account still in good standing? I've been wanting to pick it up for my pixel 9 pro for a while now, but treequell's message worried me

rocktato

rocktato More detail was given by the graphene team on their Twitter/X: https://xcancel.com/GrapheneOS/status/1870213640340508841#m

Included the reference so others who stumble across this thread can know why it's a risk for their accounts. Essentially, Google could get upset and ban your account for "account sharing"

spl4tt

rocktato All good here, but I did only really use it to download two apps that I couldn't get from the play store as normal.

Fnordbert

Hi guys,
reviving this one as I'm having some trouble with Balatro.

This is a fresh GOS install on a P8a, and when I search for Balatro in the Play store I get: This app won't work for your device.

I was able to install it with Auroa by temporarily logging in with the account that paid for it, but when I start it, Play store pops up and demands that I search for it there, but of course it finds nothing.

I tried uninstalling Playstore and Services, and then I get a message from Balatro that "Something went wrong", and that playstore is missing, which would be expected for a paid app I guess.

Playstore, Services and GsmCompat are installed from GOS appstore, but I have not tried to mess with the settings of any of them.

Does any of you have Balatro working on GOS?
Can you share the steps that made it work?

matchboxbananasynergy

Fnordbert Balatro seems to be using the Play Integrity API (partly) to prevent non-stock OSes running the game. Complain to them about it and link them to https://grapheneos.org/articles/attestation-compatibility-guide which explains how they can keep using the API while permitting GrapheneOS.

They seem to be using the play integrity API for the play store listing, perhaps not the app itself, but then they also seem to be checking whether the app was installed via Play Store.

There's no good reason for them to be doing this. Isn't Balatro a single-player game? They can't even claim it's some anti-cheat nonsense.

Fnordbert

@matchboxbananasynergy thanks, I was afraid that would be the answer. I was actually looking for ways to contact then yesterday, but as a tiny indy developer they don't make it easy.

Come to think of it, could you explain a little more of your reasoning? Why you come to that precise conclusion? That could be useful knowledge if I encounter similar issues with other apps in the future.

fph

Fnordbert I was actually looking for ways to contact then yesterday, but as a tiny indy developer they don't make it easy.

Another effective motivator is a one-star review.

berryBlue

I've been having this problem on and off as well. Whenever I get the Google Play popup, I clear it's saved data and cache and I can play the game again no problem.