Oops, they did it again! Dbrand’s Steam Machine Companion Cube has been canned because they forgot to ask Valve for permission. This snafu matters because it highlights the importance of getting a green light before diving into fan-driven projects, especially when it involves beloved franchises like Portal.
After the news broke, Dbrand took to Reddit to spill the beans. They admitted to crafting the Cube without Valve’s nod, despite the accessory becoming their second-fastest-selling product. Sadly, Valve stepped in, pointing out that the Companion Cube is their intellectual property and asked Dbrand to take it down. Cue the refunds!
Dbrand poured their hearts into this project, even redesigning it several times to make sure it was perfect. But as they learned the hard way, passion doesn’t skip the need for permission. While this is a bummer for fans, it also serves as a lesson to other creators considering unlicensed projects. If you’re curious about Valve’s other endeavors, check out how Valve has been tweaking their Steam Machine claims.
As Dbrand navigates this hiccup, keep an eye out for any future collaborations with Valve. Meanwhile, if you’re a fan of gaming gear, you might want to check out the Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller deal before it disappears!
Photo by Ömer Yılmaz on Pexels
