When it comes to early prototypes of game consoles or accessories, the fascination often translates into a hefty price tag, especially when these rare pieces show up for sale. Recently, an early version of the Steam Deck made headlines after it was listed on eBay, catching the attention of a user from the SteamDeck subreddit.
In an intriguing twist, this one-of-a-kind prototype, which closely resembles images previously shared by Valve, initially had a price of $3,000 but eventually sold for $2,000. It seems like a fortunate find for the buyer, considering its unique features, which include an AMD APU with 2019’s Picasso silicon.
Referred to internally as “Engineering Sample 34,” this prototype stands out from regular Steam Decks. Blue accents, an enhanced curved design, round trackpads, and what might be a sensor on the right joystick give it a distinctive look.
Interestingly, a bold “Not for resale” label graces the back cover, though it clearly didn’t stop the seller from finding a market.
Valve developed numerous versions during the initial design phase to test different elements, making it tricky to precisely date this model. Yet, the older APU indicates it was likely used to evaluate the hardware design early on, possibly around 2019 or 2020.
Notably, the prototype lacks an operating system like SteamOS. According to details captured by Notebookcheck from the sale listing, the BIOS reveals that Valve was experimenting with a then-unidentified AMD Picasso chip. This Ryzen 3000 mobile chip comes with up to four Zen+ cores and a Vega-based integrated GPU. In performance terms, this setup is quite different from what’s packed in today’s retail versions.
Furthermore, the 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD of the prototype fall short when compared to the 16GB and 512GB models available now—unless you’re looking at the 64GB eMMC variant. Compared to modern standards, the AMD’s Aerith and Sephiroth APUs would offer a noticeable performance boost over this version.
We’ll be keeping an eye out to see who the lucky new owner is. If it turns out to be a reviewer or someone in the tech analysis field, we could be in for an exciting breakdown of this unique Picasso chip. Alternatively, a collector might decide to quietly treasure their new gem.
Meanwhile, Valve has also disclosed that those waiting for a new iteration of the Steam Deck will have to sit tight until processors with significantly more appeal are released on the market.
