Artifact (video game)

Artifact
Developer(s)	Valve
Publisher(s)	Valve
Director(s)	Brandon Reinhart[1]
Designer(s)	Richard Garfield
Programmer(s)	Brad Muir[2] Jeep Barnett[3] Bruno Carlucci[3]
Writer(s)	Steve Jaros
Composer(s)	Tim Larkin
Series	Dota
Engine	Source 2
Platform(s)	Windows macOS Linux
Release	November 28, 2018
Genre(s)	Digital collectible card game
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

Artifact is a 2018 digital collectible card game developed and published by Valve for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It focuses on online player-versus-player battles and is based on the universe of Dota 2, a multiplayer online battle arena game by Valve. Artifact was designed by Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield.

While Artifact's gameplay and drafting mechanics received praise, it was criticized for its high learning curve and monetization model, which some saw as pay-to-win. It saw a 95% decline in players within two months of its release, with only around a hundred concurrent players by mid-2019. Valve was surprised by the response, describing it as the largest discrepancy between their expectations for a game and the outcome.

Valve reworked the game as Artifact 2.0, altering several features, including removing the need to buy or trade cards with money. It was tested through a closed beta starting in March 2020. A year later, Valve announced that it had ceased development of the game, citing a lack of player interest, and made both versions of the game freeware. The original Artifact was renamed Artifact Classic and Artifact 2.0 was renamed Artifact Foundry.