Valve’s return to releasing games kicks off November 28 with ‘Artifact’

By Steven Petite August 1, 2018

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Valve’s commitment to getting back into creating games starts in earnest November 28 when Artifact comes to Steam, Valve revealed in a press release. The trading card game, which will be Valve’s first game in five years, is set in the world of Dota 2.

At launch, Artifact will be available on PC, Mac, and Linux for $20. A mobile version will come to Android and iOS in 2019. PAX West attendees will have a chance to take Artifact for a spin. This will be Artifact‘s first public appearance since it was revealed last August.

PAX West attendees will get to duke it out in a single-elimination gauntlet. Whoever comes out on top will get to face off against a “champion,” though we’re not really sure what that exactly means. PAX West takes place in Seattle from August 31 to September 3. Unfortunately, if you were itching to play Artifact and don’t have tickets already, only September 3 tickets are available at this point. If you do get a chance to play it at PAX West, though, you’ll receive Artifact swag, including signed artwork, and two copies of the game when it launches.

Valve says Artifact will have the “deepest gameplay and highest fidelity experience ever in a fantasy card game.” That’s a bold statement considering Hearthstone has dominated the revived genre for years, and Magic: The Gathering consistently holds a loyal user base. Not to mention Gwent, which has bee available in open beta for more than a year.

Of course, Valve is known for producing high-quality and popular games, so it’s certainly possible Artifact could be a major hit. The major concern in squaring off against the likes of Hearthstone and Gwent is that both of those are free-to-play. Will Artifact be able to gain enough traction in a relatively niche genre at its $20 price? It will be interesting to see.

The initial launch will feature 280 cards. Users can buy and sell cards on the Steam Community Marketplace. Earlier this year, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell revealed Artifact was one of multiple games the studio is working on. So while Artifact may not be up your alley, rest assured, more Valve games are on the way.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Steven is a writer from Northeast Ohio currently based in Louisiana. He writes about video games and books, and consumes…

Gaming

Every rumored video game console: Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 Pro and more

A PS5 sits on a table.

History would tell you that 2024 isn't a year where you should expect a lot of new game consoles. We're smack dab in the middle of a console generation and we've already seen the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series S get upgrades during it. A wave of brand new consoles is likely four years away if the precedent set by previous generations holds up.

And yet, we're swimming in hardware rumors these days. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all have rumored systems in the works. On top of that, we're on the verge of an early second generation for portable PCs like the Steam Deck. Companies like Lenovo and Asus are also plotting follow-ups to their own devices. It's a lot to keep track of, with scattered reports sharing rumors about the status of each. To help you stay on top of the news, we've rounded up every major gaming device that's currently in the works. You can expect to see some -- if not all -- of these in the next year.
Nintendo Switch 2

Gaming

This $15 Steam game is a must-buy for Zelda fans

A ship dodges bullets in Minishoot' Adventures.

The past year was the Legend of Zelda series' moment to shine thanks to the excellent Tears of the Kingdom. Unfortunately, there's something bittersweet about that: It means we're likely not getting another Zelda game for a long time. While Switch ports of some classic 3D games have been long-rumored for Switch and we could always get a surprise remake à la Link's Awakening, Link isn't currently scheduled to set off on his next journey anytime soon.

Thankfully, there's a great new game available on Steam that can help fill the void: Minishoot' Adventures. The $15 indie title is an ode to classic, top-down Zelda games -- but there's a twist. It's also a twin-stick shooter that has players piloting a tiny ship, blasting enemies in every direction, and weaving around chaotic bullet hell encounters.

Gaming

All upcoming video game movies: release dates, development details, and rumors

The cast of Borderlands.

Video game adaptations are on a hot streak. Films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 were massive box office hits, while series like The Last Of Us and Halo have made for stellar TV shows.

While there have been some great video game movies, some have failed to capture the true spirit of a game on film. Luckily, more effort and resources are being poured into new adaptations given the success of the projects mentioned above — we're starting to see more and more video game films in the works and the overall quality appears to have hit a massive spike in recent years. With so many great video game franchises, every gamer believes their favorite game should be the next one to get a film.