Gaming handhelds seem to be growing larger—take, for instance, the hefty Acer Nitro Blaze 2. But how much effort would you invest to ensure one fits in your bag? A modder known as crastinator-pro has ingeniously reimagined the Steam Deck into the Steam Brick, a device devoid of a screen and controller, yet strangely appealing.

“The Steam Deck has been a game changer for travel,” crastinator-pro stated in a GitHub post detailing this creative effort. “But I often left it behind because it didn’t fit in my backpack, occupied a massive amount of carry-on space, and was difficult to retrieve when stored overhead.”

With a radical approach, the mod focuses solely on necessary components. While it may appear eccentric, the Steam Brick effectively operates and connects to external devices—functions made possible by keeping its motherboard, battery, WiFi antenna, storage, power button, and cooling fan intact. Most notably, this mod eliminates the controls and display while maintaining functionality.

Crastinator-pro pushed limits by re-structuring the Deck’s aluminum frame, placing it within a bespoke 3D-printed casing. However, with this radical customization, he advises that users are tinkering with the device’s lifespan and should proceed with care, lest unforeseen issues arise.

In conclusion, this unprecedented conversion into a portable device allows crastinator-pro to revisit the concept of the original Steam Machine, providing an innovative portable solution that enhances the Steam Deck’s usage for specific contexts.