Less than a month after dbrand abandoned its Steam Machine Companion Cube due to Valve's copyright enforcement, a 3D printing enthusiast has released a fan-made alternative that anyone can build at home. Printables user Jaron published the Steam Machine Companion Cube Case, a fully printable enclosure that replicates the look of dbrand's cancelled design. The project is based solely on images of the original and uses no official Valve assets.

What You Need to Know

Dbrand's Companion Cube was shelved after the company admitted it lacked a license from Valve for the Portal-inspired design. Jaron's DIY version is a fan-made project crafted from scratch using only public images of dbrand's case. It requires a single-extruder 3D printer, specific filaments and off-the-shelf hardware. The project is not affiliated with Valve or Steam and does not include any official game assets.

DIY Alternative to a Cancelled Product

According to the Printables listing, the Steam Machine Companion Cube Case can be printed with a single-extruder printer that supports pausing at specific layers for filament swaps. Jaron provides a detailed parts list including screws, threaded inserts, magnets and recommended filaments from Sunlu and Overture. Builders also need a soldering iron, tweezers and screwdrivers. The project is not for beginners but includes extensive assembly instructions and YouTube videos.

  • Required tools: 3D printer with pause-at-layer capability, soldering iron, tweezers, screwdrivers
  • Materials: Sunlu or Overture filaments, screws, inserts, magnets
  • Skills: Intermediate to advanced 3D printing and assembly experience

Jaron notes that the design does not block any vents and may even improve airflow through an additional faceplate vent. However, no extensive thermal testing has been conducted. The case fits the Steam Machine, Valve's $1,049 desktop gaming console that features an AMD Zen 4 chip, RDNA3 graphics, 16GB of DDR5 and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

Copyright and Community Response

Dbrand unveiled its Companion Cube on the day of the Steam Machine announcement and invested thousands of hours into development. The company later acknowledged it did not have a license from Valve for the Portal Companion Cube design. Valve stated the Companion Cube is its intellectual property. Jaron's project is a fan-made tribute created from scratch based on images of dbrand's design. The legal status of a project that imitates a product that itself infringed copyright remains unclear.

Why This Matters

This episode highlights the tension between intellectual property protection and fan creativity. Dbrank's cancellation left Steam Machine owners without an official case, but the 3D printing community quickly filled the gap. For Valve, the situation underscores the challenge of managing derivative works in a world where anyone can manufacture physical goods at home. The DIY Companion Cube also demonstrates that 3D printing can serve as a release valve for cancelled products, though it may raise new questions about copyright boundaries. For consumers, the project offers a way to personalize their Steam Machine at a fraction of the cost of a commercial product, albeit with assembly effort and thermal risks.