Dbrand Pulls Unauthorized Steam Machine Companion Cube Case After Valve Demand
Dbrand, a gaming peripheral manufacturer, has halted sales and is issuing full refunds for an unauthorized Steam Machine case shaped like Portal's Companion Cube after Valve's legal team demanded its removal. The company began accepting pre-orders on June 22, 2026, and the product became the second fastest-selling item in dbrand's 15-year history, behind only the Switch 2 Killswitch. However, Valve contacted dbrand shortly after, stating that the Companion Cube is its intellectual property and that dbrand lacked a license. Dbrand complied immediately and asked about obtaining an official license, but Valve refused. In a statement posted on Reddit and its official X account, dbrand acknowledged its fault, describing the project as a passion project that began on November 12, 2025, the day the Steam Machine was announced. Over seven months, the industrial design team spent more than 1,000 hours on engineering, created 44 sets of injection molds, and shot a promotional video on a rented university campus. The $99 "Poverty Cube" edition was sold at a loss per unit. Dbrand expressed respect for Valve's handling, saying the legal team was "direct, fair, and respectful." Refunds are being processed, and customers who do not see them by the end of the week are asked to contact dbrand.