In recent weeks, the conversation surrounding physical versus digital gaming has intensified, particularly following Sony’s announcement to cease production of physical PlayStation game discs by 2028. While digital libraries provide undeniable convenience, many gamers still cherish the tactile experience of owning physical copies, swapping cartridges or discs before diving into their favorite titles.
Amidst this backdrop, a resourceful PC gamer has devised an innovative method to recapture some of that nostalgic experience. Instead of retaining every game on a single drive, they have transformed their Steam library into a collection of individual SSD “game cartridges” that must be inserted before play.
How do the cartridges work?
This inventive project was showcased on the popular r/pcmasterrace subreddit by the user Jibril-sama. They acquired several used 2.5-inch SATA SSDs at a bargain price and assigned each game its own dedicated drive. Each SSD is housed in a custom case adorned with the game’s cover art, creating an aesthetic reminiscent of a shelf brimming with physical game cartridges.
Latest PC & Tech deals
Beyond being a mere display, the system serves a functional purpose. Each SSD contains the actual game files, and when connected to a PC via a SATA dock, a script automatically directs Steam to the corresponding game page. The creator has also configured the setup to launch the game automatically, mimicking the experience of inserting a cartridge into a console.
The mechanism relies on Valve’s Steam URL protocol in conjunction with Linux tools that recognize when an SSD is connected. Upon insertion, the system identifies the cartridge, reads the launch script stored on it, and seamlessly opens the correct game in Steam, eliminating the need for users to manually sift through their library.
According to the creator, the SSDs utilized for this project were 128GB drives purchased in bulk for approximately €7 each, making the concept surprisingly economical. However, they acknowledged a stroke of luck with their deal, suggesting that replicating the project today might incur significantly higher costs due to current SSD pricing.
While this setup has garnered considerable attention online, it does come with certain limitations. Since the games remain tethered to Steam, players must launch them through Valve’s platform, meaning the cartridges do not replace digital ownership or eliminate DRM. Additionally, updates must be managed through Steam whenever they become available. Nonetheless, the creator pointed out that most games stored on these drives are titles they revisit occasionally, rather than live-service games that require frequent patches.
