In the ongoing confrontation with Russia, the Ukrainian military is using Valve’s Steam Deck to remotely control machine guns, according to new official photographs and videos. The unusual application of the Steam Deck is not the first time video game stuff, whether software or hardware, has been used by a military organisation.
Every day, the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrates how new technology drastically alters modern warfare. In the internet age, practically anything can be instantly disseminated around the world, whether it’s propaganda movies or a video game player exposing confidential military documents, as happened with War Thunder in 2021. The Ukrainian Defence Forces are now employing a new piece of video game hardware, and the opponents it will be targeting are not virtual.
TRO Media (Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces) photos and films demonstrate its ability to remotely control turrets. According to the caption on Instagram, their setup, which includes a Steam Deck running a bespoke UI, allows the operator to be up to 500 metres (1,640 feet) away from the gun itself. This is an excellent weapon for defending the operator’s life from Russian forces who will be targeting the turret. The Instagram caption also mentions that any anti-personnel or anti-tank weapon, not simply the gun seen in the video, can be put on the platform. This is an intriguing Steam Deck attachment, but it will never be made available to the general public.
It may appear unusual to employ hardware designed for exploring Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City or swinging lightsabers in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for genuine military objectives, but it’s actually quite practical. The Steam Deck may be a little pricy for the typical customer, ranging from $399 to over $600 at its most expensive, but it’s pennies for military equipment, since each military drone now used by both Ukrainian and Russian troops may cost upwards of $1 million.
In addition, unlike its primary handheld competitor, the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck is extensively configurable. It runs Linux natively, giving anyone who wants to use it for purposes other than what Valve has built it to do a wide range of options, and any player with a desire can even install Windows on their Steam Deck. So it’s far from an illegal use of video game technology in an age when militaries are increasingly using video games to train soldiers and simulate potential combat scenarios.
