Summary
- Gamer finds Steam Link at Goodwill for $25, sparking nostalgia for Valve’s hardware history.
- Valve had successes like Steam Deck and Index, but also failures like Steam Machine and Steam Link.
- Steam Link can still be useful for streaming games to secondary screens, though not 4K-capable.
A video game enthusiast stumbled upon a piece of Steam and Valve’s history during thrift shopping, as they came across a Steam Link up for sale at a Goodwill outlet. This unexpected find has sparked amusement among Steam community members, stirring reminiscence about the early era of streaming games.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire Valve’s relentless pursuit of innovation in hardware. Their most notable triumphs include the Steam Deck, their compact gaming powerhouse, and the Valve Index, their cutting-edge VR headset. Yet, even giants like Valve stumble occasionally. Case in point, the Steam Machine, a concept designed to revolutionize PC gaming on TVs, unfortunately didn’t resonate with consumers as expected. Similarly, the Steam Link, another intriguing creation, was eventually phased out.
On Reddit, a user named AnewFoundLife posted a picture of a Steam Link they discovered, inquiring if it was still valuable. AnewFoundLife mentioned that they bought the device, which appeared brand-new, from Goodwill, spending $25 on the purchase. Gamers commenting on the post find it intriguing and pointed out that it remains functional. Despite not being able to stream 4K or extremely high frame rates to a TV, the Steam Link can continue to be utilized for broadcasting games from one’s gaming PC to a secondary screen at up to 1080p and 60FPS.
People are finding it amusing that the device, originally priced at $49.99, is now available at such a low price, even a steal. However, during Steam sales, the price of the Steam Link was occasionally reduced. When Valve declared they wouldn’t sell it anymore, they dramatically cut the cost to an incredibly low $2.50. While gaming has progressed and there are numerous ways to stream games now, AnewFoundLife’s purchase might not seem like a great deal. However, following its discontinuation, Steam Link was being resold on sites like eBay for over $200.
Why Was the Steam Link Discontinued?
Steam has dabbled with various types of hardware in the past, and the Steam Link was an example of this experimentation. Generally speaking, it functioned well according to many users, but it didn’t gain widespread popularity. PC gamers were generally content playing on their computers, and a significant number either lacked strong enough Wi-Fi connections for wireless use or didn’t have a setup compatible with a wired connection. Before its discontinuation, Steam rolled out a Steam Link application which operated in a similar manner, without the requirement of extra hardware beyond a smartphone or suitable streaming device. Remarkably, this app remains accessible even today.
Read More
- Byler Confirmed? Mike and Will’s Relationship in Stranger Things Season 5
- One-Way Quantum Streets: Superconducting Diodes Enable Directional Entanglement
- Best Job for Main Character in Octopath Traveler 0
- Quantum Circuits Reveal Hidden Connections to Gauge Theory
- Entangling Bosonic Qubits: A Step Towards Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computation
- All Exploration Challenges & Rewards in Battlefield 6 Redsec
- Upload Labs: Beginner Tips & Tricks
- Top 8 Open-World Games with the Toughest Boss Fights
- Star Wars: Zero Company – The Clone Wars Strategy Game You Didn’t Know You Needed
- What is Legendary Potential in Last Epoch?
2025-05-24 02:14