Tech accessory company dbrand has officially canceled its Steam Machine Companion Cube enclosure, citing a failure to obtain necessary permission from Valve for its creation. The company detailed the situation in a post on its subreddit, confirming that refunds for all orders are currently being processed.
Dbrand explained that the decision to proceed with the product without first consulting Valve was a significant misstep. The company admitted it developed the concept into a tangible product without asking Valve for authorization. This oversight has led to what dbrand describes as a decision they will "regret for a very long time."
The Steam Machine Companion Cube was inspired by Valve's PC-and-console hybrid, the Steam Machine, and specifically the iconic Companion Cube from the Portal series. Dbrand stated that despite the concept gaining considerable attention after its initial render and sign-up page appeared on November 12, 2025, Valve had not granted any license or approval. Dbrand indicated it invested a substantial amount of time and resources, including thousands of hours and multiple redesigns, to ensure the enclosure perfectly housed the Steam Machine and resembled an item from the Aperture Science universe. The project was considered a passion project by the entire organization, even with plans to sell the "Poverty Cube" alternative at a loss.
Sales for the Companion Cube enclosure opened last week, quickly becoming dbrand's second-fastest selling product. However, Valve soon contacted the company. According to dbrand, Valve informed them that the Companion Cube is Valve intellectual property for which dbrand did not possess a license and requested the immediate removal of the product and its promotional materials. Dbrand acknowledged that Valve's stance was entirely within their rights and that the company was direct, fair, and respectful in their communication.
Dbrand made an appeal to Valve to potentially keep the project alive through proper licensing, but the company stated that Valve declined this request. Given dbrand's approach of developing first and seeking permission later, they accepted Valve's decision as fair.
The company expressed regret for creating significant excitement for a product that could not be brought to market, calling it a "hard lesson to learn publicly." Mentions of the Steam Machine Companion Cube have been removed from dbrand's website and social media platforms. Links previously leading to the product page now redirect to the company's Reddit announcement.
Dbrand emphasized that Valve bears no fault in the situation, asserting that Valve has the sole right to control the use of its intellectual property derived from its game franchises. The company extended its thanks and apologies to its customers who were enthusiastic about the project and reiterated that refunds are in progress. Dbrand also offered an apology to Valve for the inconvenience, acknowledging their failure to ask for permission initially.