Dbrand's planned Companion Cube accessory for the Steam Machine has been cancelled after the company failed to obtain a license from Valve for the Portal-themed design. The accessory, which would have turned the console into the iconic Companion Cube from the Portal video game series, garnered over 15,000 pre-order sign-ups before Valve's legal team intervened.
Dbrand's Unauthorized Design
When Valve announced the Steam Machine in November 2025, Dbrand quickly mocked up a design for a Companion Cube-inspired case. The concept proved popular, with over 15,000 pre-order sign-ups. However, Dbrand never asked Valve for permission to use the Companion Cube image, which is protected intellectual property. Valve's lawyers shut the project down indefinitely.
In a lengthy statement on Reddit, Dbrand admitted, "The blunt version is that we made the Companion Cube without a license from Valve." The company explained that the product launched around 3am on Monday, June 22nd, and overnight became the second-fastest selling product in its 15-year history, behind only the Switch 2 Killswitch. Shortly after, Valve's legal team reached out, requesting that Dbrand take down the product and launch film immediately. Dbrand complied and appealed to make the product available again, but Valve declined.
Previous Run-ins with Sony
This is not the first time Dbrand has faced legal issues over console accessories. When the PlayStation 5 launched in 2020, Dbrand released custom side plates called 'Darkplates', which closely resembled Sony's design. Dbrand dared Sony to sue, and while Sony did not sue, it sent a cease-and-desist letter that prompted the removal of the product. A revised version, 'Darkplates 2.0', with a different design featuring rounded corners, eventually went on sale and remains available.
Financial and Time Investment
Dbrand's statement described how the company had poured thousands of hours and dollars into the Companion Cube project. The cheaper 'Poverty Cube' version, priced at $99, was set to make a loss on each sale. "Unfortunately, being proud of the thing we made did not give us the right to make it," Dbrand conceded. "We made something a lot of people were excited about, then incinerated our shot at bringing it to market. It’s a hard lesson to learn publicly."
Steam Machine Availability
The Steam Machine is currently available for purchase from Valve, with prices starting at £879 in the UK. A bundle including a controller costs £938.
