Shrinking the Steam Deck: The Steam Brick
Gaming handhelds have been on a growth spurt, but the Acer Nitro Blaze 2 pushes the limits. DIY enthusiast crastinator-pro sought to create a more compact version that would fit comfortably in a backpack.
Crastinator-pro's solution was the Steam Brick, a Steam Deck stripped down to its essentials. The mod involved removing the screen and built-in controller, leaving only the motherboard, battery, storage, and essential components.
The result is a much smaller and lighter device that can still connect to external peripherals like AR glasses and TVs. While the newer Steam Deck OLED is more suitable for the mod due to its superior screen, the Steam Brick is ideal for specific use cases.
Crastinator-pro cautions against the mod's potential impact on the machine's longevity, but it has proven successful for their unique setup. The Steam Brick echoes the concept of Steam Machines, Valve's earlier attempt at a console, but with the added portability of battery power.
The mod also aligns with the "portablizing" trend in console modding, where enthusiasts modify consoles to run on batteries and internal storage while retaining original hardware.
In summary, the Steam Brick demonstrates the ingenuity of DIYers and offers a glimpse into the future of handheld gaming, where compactness and customization are key.