Retro-Inspired Steam Cartridges Made From Used SATA SSDs Go Viral
Fan Turns Used SSDs Into Retro Steam Game Cartridges
As physical game media continues to fade in the digital era, one creative PC gaming enthusiast has found an inventive way to bring back the feeling of swapping cartridges—this time for Steam games.
A Reddit user known as Jibril-sama has showcased a DIY project that transforms inexpensive 2.5-inch SATA SSDs into functional Steam game cartridges. Each recycled SSD reportedly costs around €7 (approximately US$8) before being repurposed into a retro-inspired cartridge.
A Physical Shortcut to Your Steam Library
In a demonstration video, the featured game ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON was not installed on the PC before the SSD was inserted.
Once the cartridge was plugged in, Steam immediately opened the game’s library page, allowing it to be installed and launched without manually searching for it in the Steam client.
Rather than storing the game itself, each SSD acts as a physical shortcut that communicates directly with Steam.
Powered by Steam Browser Protocol
The project works by allowing Windows to detect the newly connected SSD before executing a command through Steam Browser Protocol.
This protocol enables websites, applications, and external devices to send commands directly to Steam, such as:
- Opening a game’s library page
- Starting a game installation
- Launching an installed title
In this project, the SSD simply triggers the appropriate Steam command, recreating the experience of inserting a physical game cartridge while still relying on Steam’s digital distribution system.
Open Source Project
Those interested in building their own Steam cartridges can explore the PC-Cartridge-System project on GitHub.
The creator has also shared the 3D-printable enclosure files used to give each SSD the appearance of a classic game cartridge, making the finished product both functional and visually nostalgic.
While it doesn’t replace physical game ownership, the project offers a clever blend of retro gaming aesthetics and modern PC convenience for Steam enthusiasts.
