Dbrand Built a Portal Companion Cube for the Steam Machine, and It is Surprisingly Good
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Dbrand's new Portal Companion Cube case for the Steam Machine adds bulk and a steep price tag, but impresses with top-tier build quality and smart thermal design.
Peripheral maker Dbrand is leaning hard into gaming nostalgia with a massive new custom chassis designed to house Valve's latest hardware. According to a hands-on feature by Rock Paper Shotgun deputy editor James Archer, the new Companion Cube case turns the compact Steam Machine into a bulky statement piece rooted in a nearly twenty-year-old meme from Portal. The case adds significant size to the setup, bumping the overall footprint and carrying a steep price tag of one hundred dollars for the base version, or one hundred and thirty dollars for early September shipping bundles that include themed extras like a replica controller skin and special packaging.
Despite the hefty cost and the undeniable eye-roll factor of leaning on ancient internet jokes, the build quality commands a grudging level of respect from critics. The chassis utilizes a thick, premium textured plastic that feels rugged and tactile, while the internal engineering features clever design touches like a millimeter-perfect sliding rail system, magnetic port covers, and built-in storage for the necessary assembly tools. More importantly, hardware testing shows that the heavy-duty shell does not compromise cooling performance, with CPU, GPU, and RAM temperatures remaining virtually identical to unjacketed setups during standard use.
For most players balancing space on a crowded TV stand or desk setup, wrapping a living room rig in a massive gaming monolith might be a tough sell, especially when the hardware itself is already a significant investment. Still, for dedicated collectors and longtime fans who want their living spaces to double as museum exhibits for Valve history, the craftsmanship is undeniably solid. It is an unapologetically niche luxury item for players with room to spare and a soft spot for classic puzzle lore.
Tags: Hardware, Steam Machine, Dbrand, Portal, PC Gaming
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun