unexpectedly fascinating applications beyond gaming that often defy expectations for Valve’s proprietary handheld. A notable instance is the use of the Steam Deck as a portable remote controller for drones in Ukraine. While the Steam Deck does not directly power the drones, Ukrainian troops are utilizing it as an economical, battery-efficient handheld controller to manage ground turrets.
This integrated system is termed Sablya (or Sable), as indicated by images released by the Ukrainian news outlet TPO Media in 2023. The account also disclosed how the operation functions, stating that the remote-operated turrets can be controlled from a distance of at least half a kilometer (500m) and can also be affixed to vehicles. It’s an unconventional application of the Steam Deck, but due to the open-source characteristics of the platform, there is little Valve can do to intervene. Nevertheless, it undeniably highlights the Steam Deck’s abilities as a remote Linux computer capable of running non-Steam games, even if the context of its application is somewhat more precarious than casual gaming.