10 "Next Big Thing" Video Games That Disappeared Overnight
9. Artifact
Artifact’s player base never really got to any particularly surprising numbers, but it did shock with how quickly those who had invested their time and money into it turned their back on the game when they realised what they had gotten themselves into.
Not exactly becoming of a title that was being touted by Valve as something that would not just charge the online collectible card game space but gaming in general. It’s not surprising that the game has been pointed to (and laughed at) as a red flag of the attempted integration of NFTs and the blockchain into the gaming space.
Designed by legendary Magic the Gathering co-creator Richard Garfield, Artifact’s real issue was that it charged players $20 to download (unlike other CCG titles, which were free-to-play) and then asked players to sink as much money in as possible.
New, better cards couldn’t be won or gained by chance but instead had to be bought off the Steam marketplace or awarded from participating in tournaments that also required additional purchases to even take part in.
Even after being made free; today, Artifact has a player base of less than 100 people at any given moment and is remembered as one of Valve’s most embarrassing missteps.