Artifact

Card Game· Card Battler· Deckbuilding· Trading Card Game

Released Nov 2018

Artifact now features two games: Artifact Classic, the original Dota 2 trading card game, and Artifact Foundry, a special edition with streamlined gameplay, new cards, new single-player content, and an improved new player experience.

47% positive · 25K reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Steam Free

Evaluation

Valve explicitly announced on March 4, 2021 that they were stopping all development on Artifact. After the game's troubled launch in November 2018 and a lengthy rework effort, Valve concluded that active player numbers did not justify further development. In that announcement, they stated plainly: "we don't plan to ship any further gameplay updates." Both versions of the game — Artifact Classic and Artifact Foundry — were made free to play as a final gesture to the remaining community. A final patch for Artifact Foundry was released on March 11, 2021, marking the last official update to either game. No further content, patches, or developer communications have followed. The game remains purchasable (free to install) but is effectively a finished, frozen product with no planned future changes.

Evidence

Final patch for Artifact Foundry released, fixing the install/launch button. This is the last official update shipped for either version of the game.

news post · Mar 11, 2021 source development ending

high

Valve announced the end of all Artifact development. Both Artifact Classic and Artifact Foundry were made free as final releases. Valve explicitly stated: 'we don't plan to ship any further gameplay updates.'

news post · Mar 4, 2021 source development ending

high

Media

Details

Developer

Valve

Publisher

Valve

Achievements

—

Platform

Windows, macOS, Linux

Controller

—

Steam Deck

Playable

Players

Single-player · Multiplayer · PvP

Card Battler Deckbuilding Card Game Trading Card Game Strategy eSports Tactical Competitive Turn-Based Strategy Difficult Fantasy Casual Turn-Based Great Soundtrack Atmospheric

About this game

ARTIFACT FOUNDRY

STREAMLINED GAMEPLAY
We've taken the essence of Artifact and refined it based on community feedback:
• All 3 lanes are in view at the same time.
• Unified mana pool across lanes.
• Dramatically reduced the degree to which randomness affects gameplay.

ALL-NEW CONTENT
• Over 100 new cards, including over 20 new heroes!
• Extended tutorial and playable demo scenarios for each hero.
• New PvE content: Beginner campaign and standalone challenges.
• New PvP mode: Hero Draft.

FREE AND OPEN
Artifact Foundry is free to play. Cards are unlocked solely through gameplay, with no pack purchasing.

ARTIFACT CLASSIC

THE CARD GAME REIMAGINED
A collaboration between legendary card game designer Richard Garfield and Valve, Artifact Classic is a digital card game that combines deeply strategic, competitive gameplay with the rich setting of Dota 2. The result is an immersive and visually stunning trading card game unlike any other.

STRATEGY UNBOUNDED
Wield your deck across three lanes of combat, answer every move of your opponent with one of your own. Unlimited hand size. Unlimited number of units you control. Unlimited mana you can employ.

FREE AND OPEN
Artifact Classic is free to play! Furthermore, all cards are now available to all players. If you paid for the original Artifact, your cards are promoted to Collector's Edition cards. Paid game event tickets have also been phased out.