Valve's first game in half a decade, Artifact, has received a mixed reception since its beta debuted. The game model itself has been praised as an evolution of the competitive card game scene that's been blended well with the MOBA laning model and the addition of recognizable characters and lore from the DotA universe. However, where Valve didn't receive such praise was with the game's monetization model. It's since responded to that feedback, but it may not go far enough for all disgruntled fans.
Artifact employs what detractors have called "pay for everything." That is, the game isn't pay to win, but if you want to play any aspect of it beyond the basics, you have to pay real money for it. The base game costs $20, booster packs for new cards cost $2 each, entering draft tournaments costs real money too, with paid for tickets, and with no card trading, doubling down on real money investment is just about the only way to progress.
Valve's change between the closed and open beta has made is to that players have the option to play Call to Arms Phantom Draft in their own tournaments with friends, as well as a Casual Phantom Draft gauntlet to practice the game mode without having to throw down money on a ticket to do so. Valve is also going to introduce a system where duplicate, unwanted, or unneeded cards can be recycled for event tickets, making is to that they can find some use beyond clogging up the inventory.
The public beta for Artifact is now live with the first two of the three major changes implemented. Card recycling is coming in the next week or so, along with a few other improvements that have yet to be announced.
Artifact exits beta and releases to the wider public on November 28.