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Dbrand unveils Steam Machine customization ‘backup plan’ after its Companion Cube got confined to the test chamber
Dbrand has introduced a range of Steam Machine skins as an alternative to its cancelled Portal-themed Companion Cube enclosure. The move allows owners to customise Valve’s compact gaming PC without using the Companion Cube design that Valve said Dbrand was not licensed to sell.
The new range includes designs made specifically for the Steam Machine, with matching Steam Controller skins available through an “Everything Kit” bundle. Dbrand had withdrawn the Companion Cube product and offered refunds after Valve requested its removal, making the skin range its replacement customisation option.
In short
- Dbrand replaces its cancelled Companion Cube case with Steam Machine skins.
- Valve objected to the unlicensed Portal-inspired enclosure.
- Matching Steam Controller skins are also available.
Explained simply
Dbrand is a company that makes skins and casings to customise the appearance of electronics. They had created a custom enclosure design based on the Companion Cube, a character from Valve's video game Portal, intended for use with Steam Machine, Valve's compact gaming PC.
Valve owns the rights to Portal and all its characters, including the Companion Cube. When Dbrand began selling the Companion Cube-themed enclosure without official permission from Valve, the gaming company requested the product be removed and Dbrand withdrew it, offering refunds to customers.
For Dbrand, the situation highlighted a key challenge in the customisation business: creating products based on licensed intellectual property. The company faced a choice between abandoning the customisation market for Steam Machine or developing alternative designs that did not infringe on Valve's rights.