Valve Shares Details About Upcoming Card Game, Artifact
Last year at the International 7 in Seattle, Valve revealed Artifact, an online collectible card game set in the Dota 2 universe. Since then, little information about the game has been released. However, last night Valve shared some details about the much-anticipated title.
Gabe Newell, the president of Valve, personally hosted a closed-door presentation for press outlets, where he disclosed new information about the game. IGN, a prominent gaming news outlet, reported on the event and shared all the announcements made at the conference.
Newell Announces Artifact Won’t Be Free-to-Play
Newell revealed that Artifact will not be a free-to-play game. Although he did not disclose the starting price, more information is expected to be released soon.
Game Set to Release on PC at the End of the Year
Artifact is scheduled to be released on PC later this year. Industry professionals, insiders, and pro players already have access to a closed beta, and an open beta is expected to follow before the full release. Additionally, a mobile version of the game will be released in 2019.
Screenshots and Game Mechanics Revealed
The presentation included preliminary screenshots of the playing field, showcasing cards based on Dota 2 characters and abilities. The game will be played across three lanes, similar to Dota 2, with towers serving as life points that players must break through to attack the Ancient. Once a player’s Ancient falls, the game ends.
Steam Marketplace Integration and Card Trading
Newell announced that Artifact will have full Steam Marketplace integration, allowing players to trade individual copies of specific cards. This sets it apart from competitors like Hearthstone and Magic: The Gathering Arena, which use in-game currency, booster packs, and their own crafting systems instead of direct card purchase or trading between players.
Artifact’s Connection to Dota 2
Newell revealed that heroes introduced in Artifact will make their way to Dota 2. This aligns with hints of a new hero surfacing in a Dota 2 patch two months ago.
Collaboration with Magic: The Gathering Creator
Valve is collaborating with Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering, on the development of Artifact. Garfield’s expertise in designing card games will likely add depth and complexity to the game.
More details about Artifact are expected to be announced in the near future during the closed beta testing phase.
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