Steam Deck Prototype Fetches $2000 on eBay!

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Summary

  • A Steam Deck prototype sold for $2000 on eBay, resembling the final product with slight differences.
  • Gaming device prototypes, like the Nintendo PlayStation, often hold value for collectors.
  • Steam Deck fans are intrigued by the glimpse into the development history of the device.

A recent transaction was completed for what appears to be an early model of the Steam Deck, earning the seller a generous $2000. While prototypes of the Steam Deck have been exhibited publicly, discovering one available for purchase is quite another story.

Prototypes of gaming devices have often been passed around before eventually being put up for auction on sites like eBay. An illustration of this is a Nintendo GameCube prototype that was displayed at Space World 2000, a now-defunct Nintendo event, which was sold for $100,000 online.

Recently, a keen-eyed Steam enthusiast named Gary_the_mememachine noticed what appears to be a Steam Deck prototype that was up for auction on eBay on April 8th. This prototype seems to share many characteristics with the final product, although there are some discrepancies – such as round touchpads instead of square ones, differently shaped buttons, and two face buttons being blue rather than black. A label at the back of this Steam Deck reads “engineering sample 34.” Unfortunately, this prototype isn’t in the best condition, with various scratches, a malfunctioning touchpad, and no operating system installed. The seller initially asked for $3000, but eventually accepted an offer of $2000. Given its state, it probably would have fetched a higher price if it had been in better condition.

Steam Deck Prototype Matches Early Images from Valve

A number of enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating the sale of this vintage-style Steam Deck, with some speculating that its owner might share valuable insights about the device within the broader community. Yet, others harbor doubts as to its authenticity. Nevertheless, the device appears to mirror a design from an official image of early Steam Deck prototypes released by Valve. It remains unclear how the device came into the seller’s possession, but it could provide intriguing insights into the Steam Deck’s history of development.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m always drawn to prototypes because they offer a glimpse into the creative process that lies behind these gaming systems we love. The journey from concept to final release often sees significant changes in game consoles. While the Steam Deck prototype shares many characteristics with its final form, not all console prototypes make it to the market. One of the most notable examples is the Super NES CD-ROM, also known as the Nintendo PlayStation, which fetched a staggering $360,000 at auction. This fascinating artifact was a joint endeavor between Nintendo and Sony, but their partnership didn’t last, leading to Sony creating their own console – the original PlayStation.

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2025-04-10 03:36