When you think about portable consoles, toughness usually means surviving a few drops or maybe a splash of water. But how many can brag about coming through a massive house fire without a scratch? One Steam Deck owner recently shared a story that might just make you rethink the durability of Valve’s handheld.
Daniele, a user on the Steam subreddit, recounted a harrowing experience where their entire studio was engulfed in flames. They were at their girlfriend’s place when the fire broke out, and by the time they got home, everything they had built over the years—PC, monitors, TV—was reduced to ash and melted plastic.
A letter from an unlucky, lucky fan
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Here’s the twist: right next to a melted Blu-ray player and beneath the remains of their TV, the Steam Deck sat inside its case, completely intact. Despite the fire damage and the water from firefighters, the console still powered up and worked flawlessly.
They shared photos showing the aftermath of the fire alongside their unscathed Steam Deck, which looked like it hadn’t been through anything. Given the destruction around it, it’s a pretty wild sight.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for their Steam Controller. The collector’s item was lost in the blaze, but the community is already rallying to send a replacement, showing some heartwarming support.
Daniele expressed gratitude to Valve for the quality of their products, calling the Steam Deck “literally fireproof” now. It’s a bold claim, but stories like this and others from players with similar experiences suggest something special about this handheld’s resilience.
Is it the case protecting the device or the Steam Deck’s own design? That’s up for debate, but it’s one tough little machine. Don’t test your luck by setting your house on fire to find out!
