Just in case you had any doubts, Jsaux is still making a Steam Machine e-ink faceplate, and its panel plans don't stop there. The front screen, inspired by Valve's own DIY display, will be accompanied by a pixel-clad dot-matrix version alongside a plate that honestly looks like the oddball 2000s Hi-Fi PC currently on my desk.
It's safe to say Jsuax got ahead of the curve with its Steam Machine faceplate plans. It first teased its e-ink display back in January, but the landing page still hasn't got a listing. Admittedly, I was beginning to wonder whether the accessory maker would beat Valve at its own game again, as while it previously started creating Steam Deck docks before the real deal arrived, the landing page still says "notify me".
However, Jsuax has updated its page with reassurance that the Steam Machine e-ink screen is still on the way. The site is still very much in "teaser mode", but the text now replaces the previous "E-Ink? It's happening." message and adds "We said it's happening. We meant it." That should be reassuring for anyone who doesn't want to create their own using Valve's DIY instructions, but I'm now more interested in the other two bonus panels.
"Three front plates for your Steam Machine. Color E-Ink, Mono E-Ink, Color Dot Matrix," says Jsaux while adding three new renders of the lineup. The original black-and-white design still uses a similar 5.83-inch e-ink display to Valve's custom version, whereas the dot-matrix version replaces the whole face with a piercing LED grid.
That color E-ink display, though, is the real talking point here, and Jsaux's description is a bit vague compared to the render. It features a display that's vertically half the size of the monochrome version and uses the space for what appears to be a rotary knob. The dial is accompanied by three oval buttons that make it look more like a music system, and it almost feels like Jsuax has been spying on me using MSI's MEGA Hi-Fi PC at my desk.
Released way back in 2003, the MSI MEGA 651 is a bare-bones Pentium 4 gaming PC that looks like an old-school Hi-Fi. The design isn't just for show, though, as when powered off, the system uses a front LED panel, buttons, and a volume knob to retain control over the CD drive, allowing it to play discs and radio without booting the machine.
I really love the idea of having something that can play my old pop-punk CDs while also doubling as a Windows XP machine for classics like Half Life 2 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Plus, I just really like volume dials. They're neat, and while adding one to the Steam Machine doesn't give it the same physical disc abilities, it feels like Jsaux is going for the exact same vibe as this weird MSI box.
Not that I want to be giving Jsaux ideas for free, but while I sadly don't have a Steam Machine, I've been pondering whether I could add a disc drive using a face plate. This new e-ink and dial combo has reignited those plans, as you could include some sort of mount for a slimline USB Blu-Ray drive that loads from the side. That would hilariously help Valve's box serve as a way to watch movies or even attempt to install older physical games, whereas the PS5 and PS6 are destined for an all-digital future.
Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself, as we should really wait for Jsaux's Steam Machine faceplates to see if they enhance the cube. If the first three prove to be a success, then I'd encourage the accessory maker to steal my ideas, even if no one else is into turning their $1,049 mini PC into a janky 2000s Hi-Fi.
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