Valve warns people against breathing in fumes from Steam Deck the exhaust pipe

In one of the more bizarre technology stories of the past few days, Steam Deck manufacturer Valve has advised people to stop breathing in the fumes released from the exhaust vent of the device.

The practice has turned into popular in recent days because Steam Deck Steam Deck is prone to emit a distinct scent from its interiors, and breathing in the fumes is now a favorite activity for some users on the social networks.

Although the handheld PC been required to pass rigorous safety tests prior to going on the market, inhaling the hot gasses that emanate from the device is a risk that was not discussed at the design meetings.

Dexerto says the fact that Valve Support was asked by one of the users "Is the Steam Deck safe for me to breathe the exhaust fumes that come from the top vents on the Steam Deck? It's a bit of a fad to take in the exhaust fumes, however I'm thinking I... enjoy it?"

Valve's response suggested that it wasn't a good decision in clear words, saying "As as with all electronic devices it is generally not recommended to inhale exhaust fumes from the device. Although there aren't any dangers associated with the general use of however, inhaling directly the fumes from your device's vent should be avoided.

"We recognize that this could be a viral meme, however you should not engage in this type of behaviour to protect your health.

Although it's not clear what's causing the smell, there are theories on Reddit that it is the heating of the plastic inside the case, not any internal component, like the thermal paste, or even any of the internal metals or parts.

Like any warning however, the other side is usually that it draws many more to this issue, however inhaling any fumes is not a good idea for your health, and using it to boost memes isn't something Valve believes that you should do.