A Steam Deck prototype was sold on Ebay for $2000

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Was it a surprise to find out that someone recently paid $2000 for a Steam Deck on eBay? Actually, yes – and this particular one seems to be quite special. It appears to be an early prototype of Valve’s hardware, although we’re not sure how the seller came across it.

The unusual sale was noted by Reddit user ‘Gary_the_mememachine,’ who shared screenshots of the listing on the Steam Deck subreddit. At first, he mentioned that the Steam Deck had sold for $3000, but subsequent reports indicate that an offer was accepted at a lower price – specifically, $2000. Quite a steal, wouldn’t you say?

A Steam Deck engineering prototype was just sold on eBay today for $3000 😭 from r/SteamDeck

The device is listed as an “early Valve engineering 34 Prototype Steam Deck 256GB.”

1) The device was sold for $2,000 a few days ago following an agreed-upon deal. Initially priced at $3,000, it might have fetched a higher price if the prototype had been in better shape, given its scratches, loose touchpad, and lack of installed operating system. The seller didn’t disclose the source of the device, but they did mention that it’s an unfinished model featuring circular touchpads similar to the old Steam controller.
This prototype shares many characteristics with the final product, but there are some other significant differences, including the circular touchpads now being square on the official Steam Deck.

As a devoted enthusiast, I find myself captivated by the distinctively shaped buttons that deviate from the traditional black ones, with two of them sporting an appealing blue hue. Moreover, these buttons are accompanied by minuscule joysticks that require a squint to make out clearly. Lastly, it seems that the button and vent placements have been rearranged; I can’t help but ponder if those vents will emit the same enticing aroma as the final product when unveiled.

The back of the gadget bears a label indicating it as ‘Sample 34 from Engineering Department.’ Additionally, there’s a note saying ‘Not intended for sale,’ which might be surprising given that someone managed to make a profit of approximately $2000 from it.

Is it a real Steam Deck prototype?

It’s possible, but not definitively confirmed, that the Steam Decks seen in official photos shared before Valve finalized its current model are similar to the ones being sold on eBay. These photos were shared by Pierre-Loup Griffais from Valve in 2022 and have a striking resemblance to the actual Steam Deck for sale now. However, it’s uncertain whether these are genuine or counterfeit devices, and their high price tag of $2k might make some hesitate to purchase what could potentially be a piece of gaming history.

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2025-04-10 18:10