If you’ve ever wondered what the Steam Deck might look like if it were shrunk down to a more retro-sized handheld, like the Game Boy, then a new project from u/PhyFawkes on Reddit is just that. In fact, it has “All the same dimensions” as the iconic Nintendo handheld. “It’s not done yet, but the SteamBoy is coming along great,” says the creator in a recent post.

The device uses original parts from the LCD Steam Deck, including its motherboard, battery, speakers, and face buttons. It also has room for a trackpad, thumbstick, and D-Pad. As for the display, this is a little more custom, as it’s fitted with a 1200 x 1080, 90Hz AMOLED panel “originally intended for VR” – these specs match up with the original HTC Vive and first-gen Oculus Rift.

SteamBoy is a work in progress

The project started when PhyFawkes realized just how small the Steam Deck motherboard is, wondering whether it could be fitted into a handheld the size of a Game Boy. Of course, the answer is a resounding yes. The SteamBoy’s built-in screen does not yet function, but it can be hooked up to your monitor as if it were docked (as seen in the video below). “It is admittedly still a large task to get it [the built-in screen] working,” says PhyFawkes in one of their Reddit posts.

The modder expects to use a custom adapter PCB between the display and motherboard to make the screen function. In order to ensure it doesn’t overheat in such a cramped form factor, a small 30x7mm fan was also fitted, alongside a heatsink and custom 3D-printed mount. Recorded temperatures were “in the 70s” for TUNIC, while the system ran around 90°C in Clair Obscur. For reference, the Steam Deck starts throttling at 100°C, with its ‘Critical Shutdown’ safety feature kicking in at 105°C.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen more extreme Steam Deck modifications surface online, nor do we think it will be the last. There have been a couple of examples of modders turning the popular handheld into a mini PC (usually because the display was broken), with one of these projects literally being called the Steam Brick, which is effectively an even smaller Steam Machine.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.