Alleged Steam Deck prototype bought on eBay for $2K
Valve was engaged on the Steam Deck for a very long time, pouring its successes and failures from the Steam Machines, Steam Controller, and Steam Hyperlink into one moveable gadget. We all know this as a result of Valve confirmed off a bunch of prototypes main as much as the ultimate Steam Deck—and it seems like a type of prototypes one way or the other managed to slide the surly bonds of Bellevue and make its solution to eBay.
In response to Reddit and Steam Deck HQ, a list on the US eBay web site bought the “Early Valve Engineering 34 Prototype” for $2,000 earlier this week. There’s no solution to confirm its authenticity, however the look and structure does match one of many latter prototypes Valve confirmed off in its Steam Deck “making of” booklet (PDF), significantly one with two distinctive blue face buttons. Within the eBay pictures, the rear of the gadget has a seal that reads, “Engineering Pattern 34 – not for resale.”
Assuming it is a authentic Valve engineering prototype, I guess somebody on the firm—probably within the authorized division—can be very eager about whoever bought it and the way they happened it. These sorts of units are sometimes vigorously guarded, typically even destroyed after the ultimate retail product is prepared, to guard any commerce secrets and techniques or mental property that could possibly be gleaned from them. Prototypes usually fetch excessive costs on the secondary market, however often a decade or extra after the complete launch, lengthy after they’ve turn out to be of curiosity solely to chroniclers and tech YouTubers.
It certain seems just like the prototype that Valve confirmed off. You’ll be able to see comparatively big touchpads—round like the unique Steam Controller as a substitute of the smaller sq. pads on the ultimate Steam Deck—and what is perhaps a damaged proper thumbstick. The left touchpad comes free and is perhaps broken, and the entire thing has a tough high quality with uneven plastic panels and power marks. However for no matter it’s price, I don’t see any apparent indicators of an novice 3D-printing undertaking, which is what can be my first guess if somebody was making a faux.
The itemizing bought from Kirkland, Washington state in accordance with the eBay itemizing. So if this unit wandered off Valve’s major headquarters within the Seattle space, it solely obtained a few miles away earlier than being bought. I hope whoever purchased it one way or the other finds a solution to give us a greater have a look at the gadget… probably earlier than a group of assault attorneys buries them in cease-and-desist paperwork.
