Valve's Artifact Plays Like Dota 2, Won't Be Free-To-Play
As one game enters free-to-play, another exits. Valve showed off Artifact, the Dota 2 card game, to a number of press outlets earlier this week, and it looks interesting. According to IGN, it will play on three boards, a.k.a. "lanes," and you'll control five heroes. When one dies, it takes a turn off to respawn and then comes back. You gain gold by killing your opponents, which you can then spend on buffs for your heroes. In other words, it plays a lot like a game of Dota 2, with a minimum 40-card deck on the side.
It does have one very big difference from Dota 2, however, one that's highly relevant to this site: It won't be free-to-play.
Not yet, at least, because if the response to the game continues to be massively negative, it might yet go the way of H1Z1. At the very least, since it will be on Steam, it should receive a massive enough discount at some point to be essentially free -- or at least as free to start as any online CCG is. There's no word yet on whether packs can be earned in the game or if they'll require money.
If you still want to learn more about the game, check out IGN's longer review of the mechanics, or similar hands-on articles from Venture Beat or PC Gamer. Artifact is scheduled to release on Steam by the end of this year, with Android/iOS launches coming in 2019.
Related Articles
About the Author

Jason Winter is a veteran gaming journalist, he brings a wide range of experience to MMOBomb, including two years with Beckett Media where he served as the editor of the leading gaming magazine Massive Online Gamer. He has also written professionally for several gaming websites.
Read Next
Dauntless Focuses Its Aim On Server Stability
What's more exciting than news about a just-discovered Behemoth or shiny new weapon?...
By Jason Winter - 5 years agoYou May Enjoy
Apex Legends Adds Third Studio To Help Develop The Shooter's Next "10-15 Years"
When a game rakes in billions, it's easy to see why you want to plan out another decade plus.
By Michael Byrne - 3 days agoIt's Bots vs Bots In The Latest Anti-Cheat System Unveiled By Irdeto, "Denuvo Unbotify"
Unleashing AI to take out bot cheaters.
By Troy Blackburn - 2 days agoDigital Extremes To Celebrate 10 Years Of Waframe With A Special Anniversary Livestream
Take a trip down memory lane and learn about what’s to come.
By QuintLyn Bowers - 1 week agoThe Rubber Ducks Return To World Of Warships
Once again, the annual April Fool’s event is back.
By QuintLyn Bowers - 1 day agoMad World Is Looking For Partner Creators To Produce Content For The Game
You can sign up and earn exclusive skins and titles in game, and other gifts.
By Troy Blackburn - 6 days agoEverQuest Celebrates 24 Years In Action, No, That's Not A Typo
Way to make us feel old.
By QuintLyn Bowers - 1 week ago
This is going to flop!