Microtransactions of artifacts criticized, forcing Valve to make changes

Artifact, the next digital card game based on DOTA 2, was strongly criticized for its monetization model, prompting Valve to make changes before moving to the public beta stage.

Shortly after the lifting of the embargo on streaming by Valve Artifact, popular Twitch streamers such as Disguised Toast and Savjz have posted their comments on the upcoming card game.

Tried Artifact for 5 hours today.

Advantages:
High competence ceiling
A lot of mechanics and strategy

The inconvenients:
Hard to watch as a spectator
Initial cost of $ 20
Must pay for more cards
$ 1 per draft round (unless you hit 3 wins)
Too much IQ needed for my little brain

Not the game for me.

– Disguised Toast (@DisguisedToast) November 18, 2018

I've played all the ccg and tcg games on the planet and the built artifact format does not stand out, it's not the next big thing.

The game is really dead on arrival it grows first built.

The draw is actually something elevating.

– Savjz (@Savjz) November 18, 2018

The gameplay of Artifact is interesting, to say the least, with its attempt to imitate the style of DOTA 2 with heroes and three lanes on the playing field, with a unique resource system consisting of mana and gold. The problem highlighted by some streamers, including users of different threads on Reddit over the weekend, is microtransactions of the game.

The basic game of Artifact costs $ 20 and its purchase gives players 10 basic game boosters called Call to Arms, five event tickets and a pair of starting decks made up of community cards. Initially, the only way to earn new cards is to spend real money. Players can buy $ 2 boosters each, buy specific cards in the Steam market or win cards via game modes that require $ 1 event tickets each.

Heroes, which are needed to play in Artifact, can only be acquired through Call to Arms packs. Players will have no choice but to go to the market or continue to spend real money to buy boosters if they are looking for a specific hero.

In comparison, the Blizzard home offers players various ways to earn new cards and gold to purchase boosters by completing daily quests, winning regular games, participating in the weekly tavern brawl and participating in the arena. All methods are accessible without requiring players to spend real money.

Valve, addressing the beginning of reaction against Artifact"Monetization Model," attempted to repair through a blog post. Valve will add a draft Phantom Call to Arms, which will allow players to write with their friends, as well as the Casual Phantom Draft glove in Casual Play, which will allow players to practice draft without spending an event ticket, at the same time. public beta of the game. In addition, before the end of the public beta, Valve will add a system allowing players to recycle unwanted additional cards. Artifact in event tickets.

It remains to be seen if Valve's actions will suffice to appease the indignation of the players, but the first reactions to the changes seem rather positive.

Artifact should be released November 28 on Steam. Valve announced the digital card game at the International 2017, while most players were waiting to Half-Life 3.