The Steam Brick is a Steam Deck without controllers or a screen

 Ever since the launch of the Steam Deck, its modding community has been thriving. But the “Steam Brick” might just be the most creative—and wildest—mod yet.

This impressive project comes from GitHub user crastinator-pro, who decided to take Valve’s portable gaming console and make it even smaller. The idea was born out of a desire for a more compact and travel-friendly device.

In their own words:

“The Steam Deck has been a game changer for travel, but I found myself leaving it behind more often than not, as it wouldn’t fit in my backpack, took up a huge amount of carry-on space, and was a hassle to bring down from the overhead compartment when I wanted to use it. When I did use the Deck, it was either plugged into AR Glasses (XReal Air 2 Pro) or plugged into a TV. So, I got to thinking: it could be so much smaller and lighter without the built-in controller and screen, but that would be ridiculous, right? …right?”

And so, the idea of the Steam Brick was born—a project to remove the built-in controllers and display, transforming the Steam Deck into something even more portable.

How It Was Done

To create the Steam Brick, crastinator-pro began by removing the Steam Deck’s internal components and testing if the motherboard and battery alone could boot the system and display an output. Once confirmed, the original metal frame was modified and reused in the new design. A custom 3D-printed case then brought everything together.

The result? A device that’s about a third of the size of the original Steam Deck and 24% lighter. It’s a true testament to ingenuity and creativity.

A Game-Changer for Travel

With the Steam Brick, paired with a set of smart glasses and a small external controller (which many Steam Deck users already carry while traveling), you now have a portable gaming console that can truly go anywhere.

While this project is undoubtedly impressive, it’s not something most users would attempt with their own Steam Decks. Still, it’s hard not to admire the effort and vision behind it.

If Steam Machines were still a thing, the Steam Brick would put them all to shame. A+ for effort, creativity, and execution!

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