Manufacturer Dbrand has ordered the destruction of all remaining units of its unauthorized "Companion Cube" accessory for Valve's Steam Machine following a release controversy. The company is also refunding all pre-orders for the accessory, which was created without Valve's explicit permission.
Dbrand confirmed the decision in a statement earlier this week detailing the entire situation. The company has requested that any existing samples, including those sent to journalists and influencers, be returned for destruction. The Verge reported that its own sample cube was recalled and is slated for destruction, with the publication having captured detailed images of the product and its packaging prior to its demise. The design closely mimicked the iconic Companion Cube from Valve's Portal series, featuring similar iconography and an identical cube shape, which reportedly led to Valve's strong objections.
Dbrand has acknowledged that it erred in attempting to sell the Steam Machine accessory without obtaining the necessary consent from Valve. The company's advertising also drew criticism, with some campaigns making allusions to the long-anticipated Half-Life 3, a title that has not been officially announced by Valve. The Steam Machine itself is set to launch soon, with the 512GB model priced at $1,050 without a controller. Valve has stated this price is higher than originally intended and cannot guarantee future price reductions.