Dbrand Cancels Unlicensed Steam Machine Portal Wrap After Valve Steps In
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Dbrand has cancelled its Portal-inspired Companion Cube wrap for the Steam Machine and issued refunds after realising it never secured a license from Valve, as originally reported by Eurogamer.
Popular customisation brand Dbrand has cancelled its planned Portal themed Companion Cube wrap for the Steam Machine after failing to secure a license from Valve. According to a statement shared on Reddit by Dbrand and originally reported by Sherif Saed at Eurogamer, the company opened pre-orders for the design on June 22 after a concept art reveal went viral last November. Dbrand admitted that it built the product without ever asking Valve for permission, stating that the project has now been completely scrubbed from its website and social media channels while all pre-order customers receive full refunds.
Valve legal representatives swiftly contacted Dbrand to demand the removal of all promotional materials and product listings. Although Dbrand attempted to negotiate a retroactive licensing deal, Valve declined the request. Dbrand acknowledged that the refusal was a fair outcome given its backwards approach of manufacturing first and asking questions later. For players hoping to personalise their hardware, Valve has at least promised to share design documentation for the Steam Machine front plate so that anyone with a 3D printer can craft their own custom designs.
This latest misstep mirrors previous clashes between Dbrand and major platform holders, most notably a 2021 confrontation where the company challenged Sony over custom PlayStation 5 faceplates before eventually pulling them under legal pressure. While Dbrand continues to lean into a provocative marketing style, this situation highlights the rigid boundaries of intellectual property in hardware customisation. For now, players will have to look elsewhere to trick out their setups, keeping the community conversation focused on official customisation options and open hardware standards.
Tags: Dbrand, Valve, Steam Machine, Portal, Hardware
Original article: Eurogamer