Why on earth are Steam Deck users spending all of their time smelling the hot air from their handhelds instead of playing games? No idea, but apparently, it’s a thing, as one owner has gone so far as to ask Valve about whether this new “hobby” is safe or not, to which the company replied, no, not really.
Here’s what Metapod100, a Steam Deck user who apparently enjoys smelling his gaming handhelds, sent to Valve:
Is it safe to inhale the exhaust fumes from the top vent of the Steam Deck? It’s somewhat of a meme to enjoy the fumes but I think I kinda… like it?
And here’s the reply from Valve, who, naturally, advised that this may not be a great idea:
Hello,
Thank you for contacting Steam Support.
As with all electronics, it is generally not recommended you inhale the exhaust fumes on your device. While there are no safety concerns with general usage, directly inhaling the device’s vent fumes should be avoided. We understand that it may be a meme, but please refrain from this behavior for the safety of your health.
Steam Support
Sandler
“I’m afraid it’s already too late for 80% in the sub. See you all on the other side,” reads a highly upvoted post.
“Now we all have tumors,” another wrote in response to the trend, one that has seemingly been going on for months, and even a year, now:
The Steam Deck OLED, a new version of the handheld that features an HDR OLED Display (and may or may not have better smelling fumes) is now available at a starting price of $549 (512 GB).
“Steam Deck’s HDR OLED display is designed from the ground up for gaming with striking contrast, brilliant clarity, and a larger picture,” reads Valve’s marketing for the device. “With more colors, pure blacks, and amazing motion rendition, you’ll see your games in a new light.”