Dbrand has officially cancelled its popular Companion Cube case for the Steam Machine, citing a failure to secure permission from Valve to use the iconic Portal intellectual property. The company invested significant resources into the project, including over a thousand hours of engineering, multiple redesigns, and custom injection tools, before realizing the legal oversight.
Initially teased in November 2025, the concept render for the Companion Cube enclosure quickly gained traction, with over 15,000 people signing up for notifications on its first day. Dbrand proceeded to develop the idea into a physical product without seeking approval from Valve. "We’re going to regret that decision for a very long time," the company stated in a Reddit post.
Sales for the case, which Dbrand admitted it was losing money on at $99, became the second-fastest selling in its history. However, the product's success brought it to the attention of Valve's legal team, who informed Dbrand that the Companion Cube is Valve's property and that the company did not have a license to produce it. Valve subsequently requested the immediate removal of all related products.
Dbrand described Valve's approach as "direct, fair, and respectful," but the company's request for a second chance, even with proper licensing, was denied. Dbrand acknowledged that this rejection was justified given their "backwards approach of building first and asking permission later."
The company emphasized that Valve was entirely within its rights, stating, "It goes without saying, but we’ll say it regardless: Valve didn’t do anything wrong here. They built a game franchise a lot of people love and they alone get to decide how it’s used."
The cancellation represents a significant loss for Dbrand, which had poured considerable time and financial resources into what was considered a passion project. The loss of this accessory, described as a fitting match for the Steam Machine's cube-like design, stems from what the source calls a "huge unforced error" in neglecting to seek proper licensing upfront. Dbrand has since apologized to its fans and Valve for the situation.