An old Steam Controller prototype unexpectedly found in a thrift store

The Valve device changed significantly by its release.

The original Steam Controller underwent many changes. The final 2015 version differs significantly from the first prototypes of the Valve device.

Recently, a user under the nickname Waste-Set5032 shared an unexpected find with the community. He said that his father discovered a Steam Controller prototype in a Goodwill thrift store:

This is really cool for me. As a teenager, I didn't experience Valve's heyday, so these things are genuinely interesting to me.

This version of the Valve gamepad is known by the codename "Chell" — after the main character of the Portal franchise games. The prototype dates back to 2013-2014.

For comparison, this is what the 2015 Steam Controller looks like:

A few months ago, Valve started selling a new version of the Steam Controller. This version is more reminiscent of classic gamepads: it now has two sticks with trackpads underneath, a D-pad on the left, and four X, A, B, Y buttons on the right.

Also this year, Valve launched another device — the Steam Machine. Players are lining up to buy the new product.