Canadian accessories maker Dbrand announced that its $100 Companion Cube–themed skin for the Steam Machine has been canceled and that preorders will be refunded. The company said it never sought a license from Valve before creating the design, which it described as a passion project that required more than 1,000 hours of engineering and custom injection‑mold tooling. Valve’s legal team contacted Dbrand shortly after the product listing went live, stating that the Companion Cube is Valve intellectual property and that Dbrand must remove the product and promotional material. Dbrand complied, removed the listing, and said it asked Valve if a licensed version could be produced; Valve declined. The company noted that demand for the skin remained high, with more than 15,000 sign‑ups for notifications after a concept render was posted on the day the Steam Machine was announced on November 12, 2025. Steam Machine preorders are currently open, with the base model priced at $1,050. Dbrand previously faced other disputes, including a cease‑and‑desist from Sony over PlayStation 5 skins and a controversial comment that led to a $10,000 settlement.