Redditor PhyFawkes crams Steam Deck internals into a Game Boy-sized shell
The 'SteamBoy' reuses genuine LCD Steam Deck parts and a repurposed VR display, though the built-in screen doesn't work yet.
Conversation activity · last 37 hours peak 5/hr
Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 12 items across 4 sources · 3h ago. Quotes are verbatim.
A Reddit modder known as PhyFawkes rebuilt the internals of an LCD Steam Deck — motherboard, battery, speakers and buttons — inside a shell matching the dimensions of an original Game Boy, fitted with a 1200x1080 90Hz AMOLED panel originally designed for VR headsets. The project, dubbed the SteamBoy, currently runs by outputting to an external display since the built-in screen isn't yet functional, and it spread quickly across tech outlets as a striking proof-of-concept in the Steam Deck modding scene.
- The SteamBoy reuses genuine LCD Steam Deck parts (motherboard, battery, speakers, buttons) rebuilt into a shell matching original Game Boy dimensions.
- Its display is a 1200x1080, 90Hz AMOLED panel originally intended for VR headsets (matching HTC Vive/first-gen Oculus Rift specs), but it does not yet function.
- Cooling relies on a shrunk 30x7mm fan, heatsink, and custom 3D-printed mount; recorded temperatures ran in the 70s°C to around 90°C depending on the game.
- The project currently outputs video through an external display/TV rather than its own screen, pending a custom adapter PCB and possible BIOS tweaks.
How it unfolded
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Further outlets, including TechPowerUp and Gizmodo, cover the SteamBoy as a notable entry in the broader Steam Deck modding scene.
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A commenter argues the modification degrades the Steam Deck's usability without meaningful benefit, framing the project as a 'could vs. should' exercise.
“I get that hobbiest are going to hobby, but he just made the steamdeck worse in every meaningful dimension for no real appreciable gain.”
anoff · r/technology ↗ -
Coverage describes the reused Steam Deck motherboard, battery, speakers and face buttons, a 1200x1080 90Hz AMOLED panel meant for VR, and a small 30x7mm fan with heatsink and 3D-printed mount for cooling.
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Multiple outlets report that the built-in screen is not yet functional, with the builder expecting a custom adapter PCB and BIOS tweaks will be needed, while a demo video shows the system running through an external TV.
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A Reddit user going by PhyFawkes shares a Steam Deck rebuilt inside an original Game Boy-sized shell, with genuine LCD Steam Deck internals and a custom VR display panel.
“It’s not done yet, but the SteamBoy is coming along great”
PhyFawkes · Google News ↗
What people are saying verbatim
“It’s not done yet, but the SteamBoy is coming along great”
PhyFawkes, Reddit modder · Reddit (via PC Guide) ↗ · Aug 9
“It is admittedly still a large task to get it [the built-in screen] working”
PhyFawkes, Reddit modder · Reddit (via PC Guide) ↗ · Aug 9
“All the same dimensions”
PhyFawkes, Reddit modder · Reddit (via PC Guide) ↗ · Aug 9
“I get that hobbiest are going to hobby, but he just made the steamdeck worse in every meaningful dimension for no real appreciable gain. too busy focused on if he could, not enough focus on if he should...”
anoff, Reddit commenter · Reddit ↗ · Aug 10