Check out our Monthly Survey Page to see what our users are running.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Valve have sent word today that their digital card game Artifact [Steam Link] is officially releasing on November 28th and it will be playable at PAX West between August 31st and September 3rd.

Artifact is designed to give Trading Card Game (TCG) enthusiasts the deepest gameplay and highest fidelity experience ever in a fantasy card game. Offering more than 280 cards in the shipping set, players will be able to buy and sell cards on the Steam Community Marketplace.

The event at PAX will be the first public showing of the game, so no doubt there will be plenty of videos and thoughts up from those who are able to attend (we're not, sadly too expensive for us). Here's what Valve said about the PAX event:

Players will battle each other in a continuous, single-elimination gauntlet for the right to challenge a champion on the main stage. Everyone who plays will earn Artifact merchandise, including signed prints of artwork and two keys for free copies of the game when it is released.

It will be priced at $19.99.

As a long time fan of such card games, it's pleasing to see Valve continue to push Linux support. We already knew this of course, as they already confirmed that fact previously. It will be interesting to see what people think about the ability to buy and sell cards once it's live, since that's very much like a real-life experience for any competitive/collectable card game.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
19 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
22 comments
Page: 1/2»
  Go to:

Tchey Aug 1, 2018
deepest gameplay

Well, i'm curious to see that. So many games are over simplified these days...

In the meantime, you can play the excellent, free and open source, Argentum Age : http://www.argentumage.com/


Last edited by Tchey on 1 August 2018 at 6:49 pm UTC
14 Aug 1, 2018
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
I'm definitely looking forward to it.
MKN-dev-LINUX Aug 1, 2018
Not a fan of card games such as HearthStone, but seeing that it's Valve and Valve supports Linux; AND, assuming it will have day 1 Linux support. I will probably give this one a shot.
Feist Aug 1, 2018
Interesting, I still haven´t tried "Slay the Spire", which I believe is also some kind of highly acclaimed card game. If I enjoy that title then I might just be hungry for more come late november.
neowiz73 Aug 1, 2018
I've been hoping to see a good and fun alternative to Hearthstone. I wished MTG Arena was available for Linux but alas, I hope Artifact will be a decent TCG without requiring a lot of funds to have fun casually. Can't wait to give it a shot.
Jollt Aug 1, 2018
YES! Can't wait. I'm a huge fan of card games, hope it's really good.
cc2600 Aug 1, 2018
A card game using steam's market does sound like fun. I know nothing of DOTA though. I'll probably give it a try.
SolipsistWerewolf Aug 1, 2018
It's attached to the community market, and there's almost certainly going to be microtransactions, so that's enough to get a no from me. The fact that it has an entry fee is almost an insult considering it's GaaS.

Next.
Rhythagoras Aug 2, 2018
I was originally interested in this, as a Dota 2 player who can occasionally enjoy a card game. For it to be based on Dota and not be free-to-play is a deal breaker though. I'd rather spend money on Dota 2 itself (which is nervously approaching the possibility of not having as big a prize pool for the The International tournament this year versus last year - game might be on the decline).
Salvatos Aug 2, 2018
Meanwhile I've put 20 hours in Faeria since they went buy-to-play and have been enjoying it. They have a lot more single-player content than when I first tried the beta, which is exactly what I'm interested in. The tactical positioning makes it more interesting to me than straight cards-on-a-table games.
Corben Aug 2, 2018
Haven't played any card game yet... so I'll give this one a shot.
Nevertheless, I'm looking more forward to the other games Valve has in its pipeline :->
Especially the VR ones, which I hope get Linux support too.
Asu Aug 2, 2018
wishlisted.
Appelsin Aug 2, 2018
I assume you have to buy cardpacks. Until they say otherwise, I also assume they'll use the Hearthstone business model, where you have to spend a load of money on gamble packs in order not to be steamrolled, and with each "expansion" they make all your old cards practically worthless. Pass.
dpanter Aug 2, 2018
Really not into card games, still happy for Linux support!

Valve missed a golden opportunity here to troll the gaming world.
Imagine the SteamOS/Linux version being released a week earlier than the Windows version. Imagine the sadness/madness/badassness!
Imagine that becoming the gold standard for Valve releases; Linux first. :P

Or... HalfLife 3 - the world's first Linux exclusive AAA title! /runs away screaming
Ehvis Aug 2, 2018
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
I assume you have to buy cardpacks. Until they say otherwise, I also assume they'll use the Hearthstone business model, where you have to spend a load of money on gamble packs in order not to be steamrolled, and with each "expansion" they make all your old cards practically worthless. Pass.

Except for the last bit, that has pretty much been confirmed.
Mountain Man Aug 2, 2018
Here's hoping the up-front cost means you'll be able to remain competitive even without shelling out extra for card packs. Otherwise, games like this quickly turn into the worst example of "pay-to-win". See Blizzard's Hearthstone: anybody who doesn't pay will get demolished in any competitive match.
crabel Aug 2, 2018
Interesting, I still haven´t tried "Slay the Spire", which I believe is also some kind of highly acclaimed card game. If I enjoy that title then I might just be hungry for more come late november.

I really like trading card games, play Magic the Gathering a lot ages ago, but I didn't like Slay the Spire. It is in some ways a very good game, but there is no real "deck builder" experience. In a lot of these games you have to create your deck, optimize it, tune it and adapt it for specific enemies. It's a bit like building your character in a RPG.

In StS you have exactly 50 rounds to "build" your deck. Every win, you can choose between 3 random cards and sometimes you get a random artifact. Every round is random and which bosses you encounter is random too.

Sure, there is a lot of strategy/tactics involved in that since you have to deal with the cards/artifacts you get. But some combinations simply don't work (IMHO). And then you can't win. Or you get the perfect stuff and it is easy.

I hated that. Don't get me wrong here: It is different from the classics and a quite interesting fresh approach. So, maybe you will love it. But I wouldn't base my judgment on trading card games on Slay the Spire. Love it/Hate it -> Doesn't mean you love/hate other trading card games ...
cRaZy-bisCuiT Aug 3, 2018
No chance for them because too many people invested in other games already?!
theghost Aug 3, 2018
No chance for them because too many people invested in other games already?!

A lot of people are unhappy with the Hearthstone model.
If Valve also manages to get their mobile versions out soon after release, they could reach a big player base.
Valve also had some pro gamers testing the game, which were pretty confident afterwards.
A more casual Dota could attract players which are overwhelmed by Dota's mechanics.

I think they can do it but if Valve does it half-assed like all their other games, they will fail.
monkygames Aug 5, 2018
Yet another Loot Box Gambling Game from Valve. I am grateful that Volvo has ported so many games to Linux. But I am boycotting ALL games with Gambling Loot Boxes including TF2, CS:Go, and Dota 2. This will just be another negative review. Volvo should be doing honest business and not harmful business practices such as Gambling Loot Boxes.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.