Are You Still There?

Installation of Valve’s Cube in dbrand’s Cube is simple. Use the included Allen key (which thankfully stores in the case itself) to pop off the back, slide in the Steam Machine, replace the rear frame (which is open so as not to turn your Companion Cube into a final resting place for your Steam Machine) and you're done!

The tolerances are tight, but then that's expected, you wouldn't want the Steam Machine rattling around in the case. What I really appreciate is the company's dedication to making sure the install experience is flawless. After they got their sample Steam Machine, they discovered that there was an issue with the soft silicone rails marring the surface, so they immediately changed up the manufacturing process to eliminate the issue.

In addition to the large rear opening, you can reverse the feet on the bottom of the Cube to give the case a little extra clearance, allowing maximum airflow to the ventilation cutout on the bottom. The front of the case is also removable but you don't have to resort to prying the face off in order to access the I/O ports in the front or see the LED indicator: there are convenient cut-outs for everything.

And on the shelf…it looks like the best gamer accessory you never knew you needed. It's instantly recognizable by any fan of the Portal games and comes with fun extras. Well…if you pick the correct edition, that is.

The Cake Is (Not) a Lie

There are two versions of the Weighted Companion Cube case. The standard edition is $129 and ships in late July.

In addition to the perfectly rendered Cube, the standard edition comes with a base that resembles a Super Button from the game. It’s not quite as big as pictured in the promo materials on the site but roughly the same diameter as the Cube. It also comes with a Test Chamber skin for the Steam Controller and a "cake-colored" microfiber cloth. And the packaging itself folds out and becomes a Test Chamber diorama.

Even the exterior box gets in on the bit, with safety illustrations and a "Cannot Speak" warning…just in case your extreme isolation has you attributing the voices in your head to your trusty Weighted Companion Cube.

If $129 is a little too much or you’re only interested in the Cube case itself, there’s a "Poverty Edition" for $30 less that ships in October. It doesn’t include the skin, stand, microfiber cloth, or diorama packaging, you monster.

I’ve seen early renderings of other Steam Machine cube skins and covers that left me underwhelmed. This whole-system conversion makes the Steam Machine even more fun and turns a featureless black cube into a functional gaming diorama. The attention to detail is impressive and if you're a fan of the series, it's almost certainly going to trigger happy (and frustrating) memories.

Pre-orders for the Steam Machine Companion Cube case are live now and will ship by the end of July.

Oh, and if you’re not interested in turning your living room gaming PC into your new best friend, dbrand is also cooking up skins that you can apply directly to the unit. They’re not quite ready for sale yet, but there’s yet another Portal Easter Egg there. And yes, you’ll be able to skin your Steam Machine and still use the Cube, in the event that you want your Steam Machine to reference your favorite game whether it’s in or out of its case.