New information shows that Valve can revive Artifact, its prematurely dead card game

According to a source inside Valve, the developer is planning to launch “version 2.0 in 2020” for the game Artifact – a Dota-inspired card game but has not achieved satisfactory results in the first time. . The source also explained why Artifact failed.

Going back to The International 2017, when the Dota community reacted when Artifact was announced, looking back now, it was sad. People then expected Artifact. Is this a major update? Dota sequel? A brand new game?

But when the words “Dota card game” appeared on the screen, the community complained in frustration – a bad sign for Valve’s latest project.

But Artifact wasn’t completely dead yet. One source said that the Artifact project, directed by Brandon Rhienhard “is being reworked in preparation for a 2.0 release in 2020.”

Tyler McVicker, who runs the Valve News Network YouTube channel, commented on the “Valve’s Most Shameful Disaster” video posted by YouTuber Cr1TiKaL (aka penguinz0), and briefly outlined the journey. Short, disastrous Artifact.

“The game was made hastily due to pressure from Richard Garfield & Gabe Newwell. The game didn’t tell the truth in a pre-roll event by Newell himself, and more importantly, Garfield required a focus on monetization strategy above all else. Richard and his long-term creative partner were kicked out of Valve not long after the game came out.”

Above all, Artifact is a testament to the consequences of not communicating with the community for nearly a decade. A company as big as Valve is overconfident that they know what the audience wants, more than the price itself.”

Artifact debuted below Valve’s benchmarks, peaking at around 60,000 players. The game costs $20 to play, and includes microtransactions. After launching in November 2018, Artifact player numbers dropped at a dizzying pace. From an average of 11,000 people in December, down to about 750 in February, then less than 80 from June to August.

In his commentary, McVicker tells the sadder story of Artifact’s initial failure:

“The story of expectations, development, announcements, and untimely death is worse and more detailed than ever. [Cr1TiKaL] described here, and it deserves to be told soon.”

Valve has invested heavily in the new autobattler game, Dota Underlords, inspired by the Autochess mod in Dota 2. Let’s wait and see what changes Valve will bring to Artifact.