When Valve lifted the lid on its long-awaited Steam Machine late last year, alongside the underlying hardware and compact physical design, the company confirmed that the device's front panel was customizable and replaceable. At the unveiling, it showcased several color options and a prototype faceplate with an integrated E-Ink display.
After its debut earlier this year, third-party peripheral and hardware maker JSAUX GAMING announced that its E-Ink Faceplate and Pixel Matrix Faceplate for the Steam Machine are now available for under $100.
Valve's original E-Ink teaser is now on full display with the 5.83-inch E-Ink Faceplate ($99.99 USD) from JSAUX GAMING, which transforms the Steam Machine's front into a retro monitor from the early days of Mac computing. The 640 x 480 monochrome display includes eight display modes, including time, weather, calendar, system performance, and game progress. Customization is also available via Digital Frame mode, which lets users showcase artwork, photos, and custom designs.
There's also an AI Agent Status mode for those using the Steam Machine for AI workloads, offering a quick overview of progress and other information. As for JSAUX GAMING's 7-inch Pixel Matrix Faceplate ($89.99 USD), it offers a full-color RGB display with an ultra-low-res 64 x 54-pixel matrix presentation to capture that old-school vibe. It supports images and GIFs, with a dedicated app for hardware monitoring and other dashboard-like features similar to the E-Ink Faceplate.
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JSAUX GAMING notes that the companion apps for its Steam Machine Faceplates will be available through Steam in the future, with it offering an easy-to-follow installation guide for early adopters. Both displays support Bluetooth connectivity and feature a built-in battery.
