Dbrand is refunding everyone who preordered its Portal-themed Steam Machine Companion Cube after Valve’s legal team flagged that the accessory was made without a licence, with refunds starting on 29 June 2026.
- Dbrand opened preorders for the Companion Cube on 22 June 2026 and began issuing refunds on 29 June 2026.
- The accessory was made without a licence from Valve, who asked Dbrand to remove the product and its teaser video.
- Dbrand called it its second-fastest selling product in 15 years, behind only the Switch 2 Killswitch.
- Dbrand appealed to make an officially licensed version, but Valve declined the request.
- No lawsuit or penalties were reported, and refunds apply globally, including any UAE preorders.
Dbrand is refunding everyone who preordered its Portal-themed Steam Machine Companion Cube, after admitting it built the accessory without a licence from Valve. The product went up for preorder on 22 June and was one of the company’s biggest launches ever — then Valve’s legal team got in touch, the listing vanished, and refunds began on 29 June. The short version: Dbrand made the thing first and asked permission never.
As reported by The Verge, Dbrand announced the cancellation on Monday, describing the Companion Cube as a product it made “without a license from Valve.” The accessory was tied to Valve’s revived Steam Machine hardware, which made it an obvious fan magnet — and an obvious IP minefield.
Why Dbrand cancelled the Companion Cube
Dbrand cancelled the Companion Cube because it never secured a licence from Valve to use the Portal IP. After preorders opened, Valve’s legal team contacted the company and asked it to pull everything. In Dbrand’s words, Valve “requested we take down the product and launch film immediately. This was entirely within their rights, and they were direct, fair, and respectful throughout.”
Dbrand first announced the Portal-themed accessory in November and opened preorders on 22 June. Within days the product had disappeared from its website and the teaser video had been set to private. Dbrand complied with the takedown request, then tried to salvage the project by appealing for the right to make an officially licensed version. Valve said no.
Given our backwards approach of building first and asking permission later, it was a fair answer.
Dbrand, company statement
How fast it sold before getting pulled
The Companion Cube was a hit before it was a headache. Dbrand says it became “the second-fastest selling product in our 15-year history, behind only the Switch 2 Killswitch” after preorders opened on 22 June. An exact unit count wasn’t disclosed, so we don’t know how many people placed an order.
That’s the awkward part of this story. Demand was clearly there — Portal nostalgia plus a brand-new Steam Machine to dress up is a tidy pitch. But none of that matters when you don’t own the IP and didn’t ask the company that does.
What happened, step by step
The whole thing played out in roughly a week from preorder to refund. Here’s the timeline as Dbrand and The Verge laid it out.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 2025 | Dbrand announces the Portal-themed Steam Machine Companion Cube |
| 22 June 2026 | Preorders open; it becomes Dbrand’s second-fastest seller in 15 years |
| Late June 2026 | Valve’s legal team makes contact; product and teaser video removed |
| Late June 2026 | Dbrand appeals for an official licence; Valve declines |
| 29 June 2026 | Dbrand begins issuing refunds for all preorders |
Will you get your money back?
Yes. Dbrand says refunds started on 29 June for everyone who preordered, and that applies globally — so any UAE buyers who jumped on it are included. There’s no separate regional process here; the refund goes back to whatever payment method you used at checkout. If you preordered, keep an eye on your card or account statement over the coming days.
Dbrand didn’t publish a refund window, so there’s no fixed number of days to quote. If nothing’s landed after a reasonable wait, the company’s subreddit and email support are its usual contact routes.
What this says about the accessory game
This is a clean cautionary tale about building on someone else’s IP and hoping nobody notices. Dbrand’s whole bit is irreverence, and it leaned into it here — but the brand-new Steam Machine launch made a Portal tie-in too high-profile to slip past Valve’s lawyers. No lawsuit, no penalties were mentioned; Valve just asked, and Dbrand folded.
To its credit, Dbrand owned the mistake without spin. “To Valve: thank you for Portal, and sorry for the headache,” the company said. “We should’ve asked first.” It’s rare to see an accessory maker break its own sales record and then hand all the money back with a straight apology — which is why this one’s worth watching unfold.
FAQ
Why did Dbrand cancel the Companion Cube?
Dbrand made the Portal-themed Companion Cube without a licence from Valve. After preorders opened, Valve’s legal team contacted Dbrand and asked it to take down the product and its promotional video, which Dbrand did.
Will I get a refund for my Companion Cube preorder?
Yes. Dbrand says refunds began on 29 June 2026 for all preorders, and the process is global, so UAE buyers are included. The refund goes back to the payment method used at checkout.
How many Companion Cubes were sold before it was cancelled?
Dbrand described it as the second-fastest selling product in its 15-year history, behind only the Switch 2 Killswitch. An exact unit count was not disclosed.
Did Valve sue Dbrand?
No lawsuit was mentioned. Dbrand described Valve’s legal team as “direct, fair, and respectful” and said Valve simply requested that the product and promotional video be taken down.
Will Dbrand make an officially licensed Companion Cube?
Dbrand appealed to Valve for permission to produce an officially licensed version, but Valve declined the request.
