A second prototype of Valve's original Steam Controller, known internally as 'Chell,' has been found at a Goodwill store in Seattle. The discovery was shared on the Steam Controller subreddit by a user whose father located the device. This marks the second time a prototype of this early gamepad has surfaced at the retail chain, with a previous instance occurring seven years ago.
The father of the Reddit user, who confirmed he purchased the controller, stated he recognized its significance for his son, a known Valve enthusiast. The younger user, who is 14, described finding items related to Valve as akin to discovering "ancient relics" and expressed a fondness for the company's older titles.
The 'Chell' prototype is believed to be from 2013 or 2014, making its current owner approximately one or two years old at the time of its creation. While sharing a general resemblance to the final 2015 Steam Controller with its inward curved design and dual trackpads, this prototype features notable differences. It lacks face buttons on the right side, instead placing them in the center. The Select and Start buttons are also repositioned to the bottom, and thumbsticks are entirely absent.
Despite its unfinished state, the prototype is reportedly functional as a generic controller. The four central buttons are said to operate as a D-pad, with top-left for up, top-right for right, bottom-left for left, and bottom-right for down. This unique button layout and the absence of thumbsticks suggest the prototype was not intended for the kind of gameplay the final Steam Controller aimed to support.
The discovery highlights the evolutionary path of Valve's controller design, showcasing significant changes in ergonomics and functionality over the past decade. While the exact purchase price of this latest find is unknown, the previous prototype discovered seven years ago was reportedly bought for $8. The 'Chell' prototype serves as a curious artifact from a pivotal moment in Valve's hardware development history.