An early prototype of the Steam Deck gaming handheld has recently sold on eBay for $2,000, raising eyebrows among gaming enthusiasts and collectors alike. The listing, titled “Early Valve Engineering 34 Prototype Steam Deck 256GB, Tested, Please Read!” attracted significant attention before it was removed from eBay’s main network.
The prototype’s original eBay listing price of $3,000 or best offer gave interested buyers the opportunity to make their own bids. After much negotiation, the seller agreed to a $2,000 bid. The resultant auction listing went into enough of a description that it emphasized the fact that this unit was “tested.” It hid standout features such as circular track pads and eye-popping blue triggers.
34, prototype device back It’s that second aspect that makes the device so fascinating. This fact makes it even more interesting as a unique relic from the Valve development process. Note that the installed operating system is not yet ready on the prototype. This lack of connections could limit its usability for some users.
The seller presented the prototype’s boot screen during the auction. This provided potential bidders a very exciting glimpse at its capabilities. The first eBay listing flew through eBay’s digital auction house API. This incredible time-saving tool makes configuration and syncing of listings across multiple platforms quick and effortless.
HT to Reddit user Gary_the_mememachine for being the first to catch this unusual sighting. Just as quickly, he raised the alarm around the gaming community. The idea proved irresistible and a tsunami of enthusiasm followed the initial post. Users jumped to conclusions on what the sale of these prototypes would mean for future hardware development.
We’ve contacted Valve for any comments on this prototype, specifically about its availability. So far, they have remained silent. The implications of the sale of this prototype raise some important questions. It raises questions about the company’s broader approach to hardware development and deployment of pre-release models.