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Steam Deck Prototype Auctioned for $2,000 on eBay
An intriguing online auction has concluded with a buyer reportedly spending $2,000 for what appears to be a Steam Deck prototype. The device, a possible early iteration of the popular handheld gaming console, was initially listed on eBay for $3,000. This unusual sale has sparked curiosity within the gaming community and raises questions about the origins and authenticity of the auctioned item.
eBay Listing of Alleged Prototype
A Reddit user reportedly discovered an eBay listing titled “Early Valve Engineering 34 Prototype Steam Deck 256GB, Tested, Please Read!”. While the original listing is now difficult to locate directly through eBay‘s search, it remains accessible via websites utilizing the auction platform’s API.
Device Details and Sale
The auctioned device bears resemblance to the commercially available Steam Deck but exhibits notable differences. Key distinctions include circular trackpads and blue triggers. The listing price was set at $3,000, with an option for “best offer.” Records indicate that the seller accepted an offer of $2,000 on April 8, concluding the sale. Currently, detailed information about this transaction remains limited.
Prototype Features and Design
Photographs purportedly from the eBay listing, circulated on Reddit, reveal a label on the device’s rear panel identifying it as “Engineering Sample 34.” Design variations from the retail Steam Deck and its OLED iteration are apparent in the device’s front and rear contours. Notably, the photographed prototype seems to lack a right joystick. Furthermore, the label on the device explicitly states it is “not meant to be sold,” adding another layer of intrigue to its appearance on eBay.
Claims Regarding Operating System
The seller reportedly indicated that the prototype lacks a pre-installed operating system. Images shared from the device’s boot screen supposedly offered further technical specifications and details about the hardware.
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Authenticity and Valve’s Potential Response
While the possibility of an elaborate fabrication exists, the evidence suggests that a genuine Steam Deck prototype may have been sold through the online auction. This sale prompts speculation regarding Valve’s stance on the unauthorized circulation of engineering samples and the implications for the company’s hardware security. Inquiries have reportedly been made to Valve and the alleged seller to gain further insight into the device’s provenance and the circumstances surrounding its acquisition and sale. As of now, responses are pending.