Someone turned their Steam Deck into a Steam Machine that’s even more portable than the handheld
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Back in 2015, Valve launched their small form factor gaming computers known as Steam Machines. These devices ran on SteamOS and were designed to deliver a console-like gaming experience from the comfort of your couch. Unfortunately, after just three years, they were discontinued due to poor sales and shifted focus to other projects. Fast forward to today, and we have the Steam Deck, a portable PC handheld that revolutionized the market by putting the power of a PC in a handheld device.
While the Steam Deck has won over many, some users aren't entirely satisfied with its size and prefer something even more compact and easier to carry. Like a mini-console. This is where GitHub user Crastinator-Pro comes in, who decided to take matters into their own hands. They transformed their Steam Deck into a fully functional, portable mini-computer dubbed the Steam Brick.
A closer look at the Steam Brick
The Steam Brick is essentially a Steam Deck taken apart and rebuilt in a new way, meaning you don't need many additional components – just a good amount of courage. The creator behind this project warns that anyone attempting this should proceed at their own risk, as the process is highly technical and potentially dangerous.
With that caution out of the way, the Steam Brick mod was performed on a 1TB OLED Steam Deck. Using various guides, tutorials, and personal expertise, Crastinator-Pro stripped the Steam Deck down to its core components: the mainboard, battery, and cooling fan. This involved removing the touchpads, analog sticks, triggers, and all daughterboards associated with the controls.
Once stripped down, a functional aluminum frame was revealed, which was further modified to fit into a 3D-printed shell. This simple enclosure housed the structural frame, transforming the Steam Deck into a highly portable console. The final result is a device that's about a third of the size of the original Deck and approximately 24% lighter.
But where's the screen? Well, it doesn’t have one, but this mini console can be connected to a TV via HDMI, as the Steam Deck supports video output through its USB-C port. Alternatively, Crastinator-Pro uses AR glasses for an even more portable setup. If AR glasses aren't your thing, you can pair the Steam Brick with a foldable screen or any other display that suits your needs. On top of that, you’ll notice that the controls are gone – replaced by a standalone controller.
Valve, this is your sign to revive the Steam Machine
That's it for the Steam Brick! The device was built to be tossed in a bag and transported anywhere you like. Interestingly, the Steam Brick is a lot like the Steam Machine in some ways, and it shows there's still a fanbase for small form factor consoles. We recently saw a SteamOS developer discussing the possibility of Steam Machines, mentioning that while the current focus is on handheld devices, the door for collaboration remains open.
The creator has also received well-deserved praise on Reddit communities for this creative project, with some calling it “a home console that's the size of a phone and plays any PC game.” That said, be sure to check out Crastinator-Pro's breakdown of the Steam Brick. The user describes it as more of a “how I did it” guide rather than a step-by-step tutorial, but if more users show interest, we hope it expands into a detailed write-up.
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