Accessory maker Dbrand has canceled and refunded all sales of its Steam Machine Companion Cube case, after Valve’s legal team confirmed that the design used Valve’s intellectual property without permission.
The company publicly acknowledged a reddit post That it spent more than seven months developing the product without seeking approval from Valve.
The Portal-inspired Companion Cube Case was available for pre-order starting June 22, priced at $99. It became Dbrand’s second fastest-selling product in its 15-year history before being removed from sale. All pre-orders are being refunded.
What happened between dbrand and valve?
The matter began as a joke shortly after the Steam Machine was announced. Consumer interest encouraged Dbrand to turn it into a real product.
The company reported that over seven months, it took more than 1,000 hours of engineering to develop the case, along with the creation of 44 sets of injection molding tools.
In a Reddit post, dbrand noted, “We made this idea a reality without asking Valve if we could do it. We’ll regret that decision for a very long time.”
The company also revealed that it was losing money on sales of each $99 case, but described it as a passion project.
Pre-orders for the case opened on June 22. Shortly afterward, Valve’s legal team contacted DeBrand. Valve’s lawyers stated that the Companion Cube is Valve’s intellectual property for which DBrand does not have a license, and requested that DBrand immediately remove the product and associated launch film.
DeBrand described Valve’s actions as “direct, fair, and respectful”. The company attempted to secure the license retroactively, but Valve refused.
What should customers expect
All pre-orders placed during the brief sales window are being refunded today. Customers do not need to take action to receive their refund. The original product listing page now redirects to dbrand’s explanatory Reddit post.
Dbrand has not announced any replacement products or alternative designs for Steam Machine owners interested in the case.
The 44 sets of injection molding tools developed for Cube Design cannot be reused for unlicensed Portal-themed products.
This incident is a clear example of a company openly admitting a significant mistake. DeBrand simply said, “Being proud of what we made doesn’t give us the right to make it.”
The company also acknowledged that “Valve did nothing wrong here. We should have asked earlier.” When a Reddit user called dbrand “stupid,” the company’s official account simply replied, “Yeah.”
What this means for third-party Steam Machine accessories
This incident highlights the limits of informal product development for licensed intellectual property, even when manufacturers have the best intentions.
For other companies thinking about creating Steam Machine accessories, the main takeaway is clear: licensing approval must be obtained before beginning development, not after.
Valve has provided CAD files for the Steam Machine’s outer casing, enabling third-party manufacturers to create custom faceplates.
This officially supported option allows accessory makers to participate in the Steam Machine ecosystem without infringing on Valve’s IP.
However, unlicensed designs incorporating Valve-owned characters, settings or assets still require formal licensing agreements.
For users hoping to purchase the Companion Cube Case, there has been no announcement of a licensed version. Currently, the only way to customize the Steam Machine is through third-party designs based on Valve’s released CAD files, with custom faceplates becoming the most accessible option.
Thanks for being a Ghax reader. The post Debrand Cancels and Refunds Portal Companion Cube Steam Machine Case After Valve Shuts Down and Dissists appeared first on GHacks.
