Do NOT smell your Deck!

How did a jokey Reddit post of a screenshot of a support response turn into every site covering this like everyone is doing it and Valve is pleading everyone to stop?

Because "journalists" gotta get those clicks

Next year: New Steam Deck rumored to have an essential oil compartment.

…fumes? Does this handheld device run on a literal steam engine or something?

New electronics will have a smell mostly from adhesives outgassing. Those fumes.
- This is the only board I ever smelled that was pleasant. Usually a circuit board smells faintly of burnt plastic and pee, even new.
- Yeah I figured it had to be glue or plastic based fumes from heat.

Same energy as "Do not lick your Nintendo Switch cardridges"

I didn't know that was a thing until I saw a reference like this a couple years ago so looked it up.
Believe you me I immediately grabbed two cartridges and asked my kiddo if they'd like to lick one. They're very bitter

Jokes on them I didn't hear about the vent fumes until they asked me not to huff them now I've been sniffing erryday.

Streisand Effect

100%

If the fumes are dangerous enough to warn people about, should the materials that emit them really be in a handheld that might be used by children?

Should LEGOs, which pose a swallowing risk, be used by children?
- Legos have age ranges written clearly on the packaging. Can't remember if the steam deck had similar labelling on its box.
  Swallowing is also a much more obvious risk that parents are aware of. Valve is issuing an official statement to its adult customers not to smell the poison gas from its product, so apparently the danger is not so obvious.
Keep out of reach of small children
https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/store/steamdeck/SteamDeckManual022022.pdf

Looks like I chose a bad week to stop sniffing deck

Would smelling an Xbox 360 controller circa 2009 have a similar carcinogenic effect? Asking for a friend

That's a good vintage. That one is fine. But it will make your baby smaller.
- Ok that’s perfect, got a vasectomy

It's sad times when the game you're playing currently doesn't crank up the fan/heat enough to get a good hit from the vent.

You'd better be over 60 lbs to use that steam deck. And don't even think about putting rocks in your pockets to seem heavier because little girl, that'll be like huffin 5 maccanudos.

No <3

The rumor is that the fumes are carcinogenic, so I ain't trying regardless how good it could smell

Meh, I've done worse

gaben says: “smell that stank, idgaf”

You’ve described it perfectly. Its honestly addicting just putting your nostrils over that air vent when you boot up a demanding game and smell the comforting steam deck vent smellls. I suggest you get a steam deck purely for the vent smell. I’ve already got 14 which im sniffed all the vent smell out of already.

My deck smells fishy

well lucky for you it don't smell good no more

I have noticed that it starts to smell like normal warm electronics over time. Kinda disappointing to be honest

Oh damn. I guess back to sharpies then.

RIP me

Steam dick

Sniffing the deck is baby town frolics...if you're a real man, taste a switch cartridge