And it’s not the only idea Dbrand has, either
Electronics accessory maker Dbrand is helping the new Steam Machine feel closer to its Valve roots with a Companion Cube skin. Currently listed on the site’s limited edition section, players can sign up to be notified of when the possibly-sentient cube goes on sale.
The baseline form of the Steam Machine, Valve’s new PC-esque console, looks very plain — it’s a small black box that’s essentially a blank slate for designers to take advantage of. The initial reveal trailer for the 2026 device did show a few different interchangeable faceplates, but nothing that covered the entire thing. The is far from Dbrand’s first foray into device customization, with offerings like console skins and the company’s popular Killswitch cases in the gaming ecosystem for quite a while, and this is likely not the only accessory that’ll wind up released for the new Steam Machine, controller, and Steam Frame.
In comments made by Dbrand CEO Adam Ijaz to The Verge, the company has two more skins in the works as well: A Minecraft block and a GameCube. He describes the Companion Cube as “a shell that attaches to the Steam Machine’s own chassis” that has “been designed not to block any air intakes or the rear exhaust.” Any other information regarding the Companion Cube case is a bit of an enigma at this time, with the site only offering up a picture and a vague 2026 release date — though, to be fair, we don’t know when the Steam Machine is coming either.
Cost of the case is also up in the air, though some inferences can be made based on the website’s other pricing. Dbrand’s hardshell PlayStation 5 case, for example, retails at $79.90, while the Nintendo Switch 2 Killswitch runs $59.95. Though they’re different products, it seems logical that pricing aligns somewhat with the size of the device, and with the Steam Machine’s smaller size it’s possible the Companion Cube cost could fall between those new numbers. With its simple shape and color scheme, Ijaz stated in the same interview that the Steam Machine is “an outstanding canvas for creativity,” and we’re inclined to agree — Dbrand’s Companion Cube is undoubtedly the first in a long line of unique takes on the new console.
