Steam games on SSD: hobbyist builds his own retro PC cartridges

A PC gamer has found a way to bring the feel of classic cartridges into the modern era. With inexpensive storage drives and suitable scripts, digital PC titles in cartridge form become tangible objects on the shelf again.

Physical media for the PC

While major console manufacturers like Sony are increasingly relying on purely digital sales (triggering massive protests) and physical media is slowly disappearing, many users still want games they can touch. A hobbyist has developed his own and quite elegant solution for PC gaming: he stores his Steam titles on individual two-and-a-half-inch SSDs that work like classic console cartridges. Each storage medium holds a single game and is physically inserted into a reader to start.

The hardware basis is a standard SATA dock that is connected to the computer. The drives are in housings from the 3D printer and are covered with appropriate graphics. The hobbyist named Jibril-sama uses a Linux operating system for this. As soon as a module is inserted, the system recognizes the drive via a udev rule. A script then automatically calls up the appropriate Steam page or starts the title directly without any further input.

Steam game cartridges
by
u/Jibril-sama in
pcmasterrace

Limits of SSD modules

Like a hobbyist all in one Reddit post explains, he uses used drives with a capacity of 128 gigabytes each for the project. The price per piece was around seven euros. The procedure protects the computer’s primary memory and improves the appearance on the shelf. However, there are clear technical disadvantages to the approach that limit everyday use for many players. The system does not bypass any copy protection measures.

Users therefore still require the Steam client and an active internet connection for verification. Regular game updates also represent a hurdle. If a title is not played for a long time, the platform first downloads large amounts of data after it is plugged in. The format is therefore rather impractical for modern online games and is better suited for single-player titles.

Alternatives without copy protection

Some commentators note that the system would be a better fit for platforms like GOG. PC games are sold there without DRM restrictions, simulating real physical ownership. With Steam, users only purchase licenses to use the software, which means that the game files remain tied to the respective user account.

Despite the technical limitations and fluctuating prices on the storage market, the project shows how PC gamers can visually and tactilely break down their reliance on purely digital libraries. To put it bluntly: Practical or not, it looks damn cool.