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In a fresh development, one 3D printing fan decided that if they couldn’t afford four figures for Valve’s underwhelming system update cube, they could at least get the same home decor vibes. They printed a tissue box holder that mimics the devices. The Steam Machine is an adorable little tech industry PC (or console, depending on the angle), but its pricing is its biggest problem.
Industry observers note that “At least now I can larp as one of you guys.” They designed the “1:1” replica to allow a smaller tissue box to slide in from the rear, keeping the front fascia clean. “Always liked the look and design of the Steam Machine, but financially, couldn’t justify treating myself to one,” says Reddit user itsBoyso on the Steam Machine sub.
Industry observers note that (Think carefully before you print, it’s a big decision with imaginary SSDs costing so much.) It even works with the Steam Machine’s magnetically swappable faceplates, though you’ll need to supply your own magnets. The 3D printing files are now available on MakerWorld, in 512GB and 2TB versions.
According to the latest update, you can actually get that one too — seems like it’d be a nice companion piece to the Tissue Steam Machine. The Steam Machine now joins a collection of little tech industry gadgets that look like other things, including the PS5 that looks like a big Wi-Fi router or Seto Kaiba, and the Xbox Series X that looks like a mini-fridge.
The report highlights that on PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a fresh one for a review and building a fresh mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile Worldwide scene Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip. Michael is a 15-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE.