Your Steam Machine Can Live Inside a Companion Cube

"Luxurious and expensive." That's how dbrand describes its Companion Cube case for Valve's Steam Machine, and after seeing the full reveal, I'd say the "luxurious" part checks out. Whether it's expensive depends on how badly you want your gaming PC to look like it belongs in an Aperture Science test chamber.

The case, which dbrand first teased last year, is now available to pre-order in two tiers. The special edition runs $129.99 and ships in a box that doubles as a fold-out test chamber diorama. It also includes a cake-themed suede cloth, a replica Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button stand, and a Portal-themed skin for the Steam Controller. If you just want the cube itself without the extras, a $99.95 version ships later in a plain box. The special edition ships in late July; the standard version follows in October.

This isn't a skin or a decal. It's a full polycarbonate and polyurethane shell that sits over the entire Steam Machine, turning Valve's compact PC into a near-perfect 186.6mm cube. At just over a kilogram, it's not going to weigh down your setup, and dbrand says it won't interfere with airflow thanks to rear and bottom ventilation. The front panel is magnetic and removable for cleaning the Steam Machine's front grill, and there's a cutout that lets the LED strip shine through. Front-facing IO ports can be hidden away behind magnetic holders, and the back panel also comes off for cable access.

More Than a Novelty

I'll be honest: I expected this to be a cool-looking shell with thermal compromises, because that's usually what happens when you wrap custom housing around a PC. But the engineering here looks surprisingly considered. Two height profiles, N52 neodymium magnets for the panels, hex socket cap screws, and rubber feet with adjustable height between 3.4mm and 6.3mm. Dbrand clearly built this for people who actually plan to use their Steam Machine daily, not just display it on a shelf.

The $129.99 price tag for the special edition is steep for what is ultimately a cosmetic accessory, but the test chamber packaging and the controller skin add enough novelty that I can see Portal fans pulling the trigger without much hesitation. The $99.95 tier is a more reasonable ask if you just want the cube and nothing else.

What makes this land so well is the timing. The Steam Machine is on the verge of its full consumer launch, and Valve has always leaned into Portal as its most merchandisable IP. A Companion Cube case feels like the most obvious product in the world, and dbrand got there first with something this polished is a win for them. I can't think of another third-party PC case mod that doubles as an iconic gaming prop this effectively.

Both versions are available to pre-order now through dbrand's store, with the special edition expected to ship in late July and the standard version following in October.