One Redditor has created a physical media project that not only laser-targets my cartridge-based obsession but also scoffs at the raging memory supply crisis. User Jibril-sama scored a bunch of second-hand 2.5-inch SSDs “for cheap” and has leveraged them to create a game cartridge system for their Steam library.
The Redditor explains that the games are actually loaded onto the SSD-based ‘cartridges,’ and they’ve even gone to the effort of creating colourful housing featuring each game’s cover art. When the SSD is slotted into the drive dock, a script auto-navigates Steam to the game’s library page by leveraging Valve’s Steam browser protocol. Apparently, the system can also be set up to immediately launch each game too.
Now, in the midst of massively spiking memory prices, the obvious question to ask is just how cheap those 2.5-inch drives were. The Redditor explains in comments that they “just got lucky,” purchasing a number of 128 GB SSDs for only €7 ($8) each.
So, unfortunately, anyone attempting to replicate this Redditor’s system would likely have to spend much, much more on the SSD ‘cartridges’ than what they paid for their games. Some folks really do get all the luck. The Redditor goes on to say, “Found someone selling them in bulk. Probably some refurb station taken out of old PCs or something.”