dbrand’s new Steam Machine skins turn Valve’s compact living-room PC into anything from a white-marble décor piece to a textured cube-shaped basketball, but prospective buyers should separate the visual makeover from the product’s actual availability: the wraps are preorders scheduled to ship in late August, not accessories broadly in customers’ hands today.
The Shortcut’s Adam Vjestica tested several of the designs on a Steam Machine and found that the enclosure’s nearly square, flat panels make alignment unusually forgiving for a multi-panel vinyl skin. His White Marble installation is persuasive evidence that the system can be made to recede into a media center rather than read as another black gaming box. The same geometry makes dbrand’s deliberately conspicuous Basketbox and Package designs work better than they would on an asymmetrical console.
dbrand’s product page confirms a much larger catalogue than a handful of novelty options: it currently lists 51 selectable designs. But the practical purchase decision is less about choosing between White Marble, Basketbox, Flat Earth, Bricks, Terminal, Orange Box, Dice, Package, or Touch Grass than it is about selecting how much of the hardware will actually be covered—and accepting that a skin is not the same thing as a replacement shell.
Valve built the 2026 Steam Machine around a small cubic chassis with a removable magnetic faceplate. The 2TB versions include two additional faceplates, one red fabric and one solid walnut, alongside the standard panel. PC Gamer’s review found the walnut piece to be real wood rather than a printed wood-look surface, while Valve’s current Steam hardware lineup positions those alternate plates as part of the premium-storage model’s bundle.
That matters because dbrand’s most inexpensive option, the $22.95 Essential Kit, only covers the faceplate. It is the direct rival to Valve’s swappable front-panel approach: a cheap visual change that leaves the basic black chassis intact. For someone whose Steam Machine is hidden in an entertainment cabinet, that may be the sensible level of customization.
The $42.95 Deluxe Kit is the version Vjestica’s report effectively argues for. dbrand says it includes skin pieces for the faceplate, the front I/O panel, and the top, left, and right sides of the Steam Machine. It is enough material to alter the device from every angle most people will see when it sits horizontally on a shelf.
But “full coverage,” as used casually in accessory marketing, needs a qualification here. dbrand’s own breakdown does not list the rear or underside among the covered surfaces. That is reasonable—the rear is the cable and exhaust side, and the bottom is usually out of view—but buyers expecting a fully wrapped enclosure should not infer that from photographs showing the front and upper faces. This is a precision-cut cosmetic skin set, not an all-new case.
The $52.95 Everything Kit adds a matching Steam Controller skin at a discount versus buying the two device kits separately. That is the option for a coordinated setup, but it also moves a cosmetic purchase beyond $50 before shipping and taxes. Against a Steam Machine that starts at $1,049 in the United States, the price is modest; against Valve’s included walnut faceplate on a 2TB unit, the argument is about wanting a different look rather than getting a cheaper one.
PC Guide identified those exclusives as Basketbox, Terminal, Flat Earth, Bricks, Black Dice, White Dice, Package, Orange Box, and Touch Grass. Several are designed around the dimensions of Valve’s chassis rather than merely adapted from laptop or handheld layouts. Basketbox is especially dependent on the cube form: its pebble-textured pattern completes the visual joke only when it spans the front and surrounding panels.
The more conservative finishes may have wider appeal. The Shortcut’s White Marble example makes the Steam Machine resemble a decorative stone object, which is probably closer to the goal for people who bought the hardware to put it next to a television rather than under a desk. A matte, marble, leather, or plain-color wrap can also mask the Steam Machine’s default industrial-black presentation without changing the device’s footprint or requiring an aftermarket enclosure.
The loudest designs carry a different trade-off. A cardboard-style Package skin or a fuzzy Touch Grass wrap makes the hardware conspicuous, potentially creating a welcome focal point in a gaming room but defeating the “appliance-like” quality that Valve’s minimalist hardware design otherwise offers. That is not a flaw; it is the point of a skin catalogue that includes both camouflage and spectacle.
Some designs are priced above the base configuration. PC Gamer reports that dbrand’s Touch Grass and Real Black Leather options reach $60, while more conventional patterned wraps sit around the low-$40 range and solid-color versions around the mid-$30s. Buyers should check the selected design and kit together instead of assuming the product page’s lowest price represents a full-device wrap.
Still, this is one tester’s early experience, not a broad record of owner installations. dbrand provides a video-instruction link and says its cutting machinery works to tolerances within one-thousandth of a millimeter, but those are vendor claims. No independent outlet has yet published a long-term assessment covering adhesion around the Steam Machine’s edges, residue after removal, or how the skins look after months in a warm entertainment center.
The company does promise that removal leaves no adhesive residue and says its materials provide scratch protection. Those are useful assurances for anyone worried about preserving the original finish, especially given the Steam Machine’s resale value and short supply. They should not be read as a promise that the vinyl itself will remain unmarked, or that a textured design will look pristine after repeated handling and dusting.
There is also a difference between covering an appliance and modifying it. A vinyl wrap requires no chassis disassembly, does not replace ventilation hardware, and preserves access to the removable faceplate underneath. That makes it a lower-risk cosmetic change than the custom cases and 3D-printed shells now emerging around Valve’s hardware.
That history explains why the current collection is strategically more conservative. A vinyl skin does not alter the Steam Machine’s structure, and dbrand’s original designs can avoid direct use of Valve-owned Portal imagery. The company still indulges in references: PC Guide noted that Orange Box and Package evoke Valve properties, but neither is a literal Companion Cube product.
There is an important practical consequence. The cancelled $99 Companion Cube was an enclosure-style transformation with a physical silhouette that changed the machine’s identity. The new skins are visually transformative, especially on the top and sides, but they cannot recreate that hardware-level effect. Anyone waiting for dbrand to revive the Portal-themed case should treat this catalogue as a replacement product line, not a temporary stand-in before a licensed version appears.
Valve has also made CAD files for the Steam Machine’s external shell available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. That has opened a separate route for owners and makers who want custom faceplates or enclosures. It does not give commercial accessory makers a free pass to sell Valve-IP designs, and Valve has warned that damage caused by a shell swap is not covered by warranty.
For everyone else, dbrand’s collection fills a gap Valve has left open. Valve has not announced a continuing catalogue of official alternate faceplates, and supply constraints mean many reservation holders may not receive an invitation to buy their Steam Machine until late 2026. The wraps will begin shipping before that backlog is cleared, but the first ordinary customers will still need the hardware in hand before they can turn it into marble, cardboard, grass, or a basketball.
dbrand’s product page confirms a much larger catalogue than a handful of novelty options: it currently lists 51 selectable designs. But the practical purchase decision is less about choosing between White Marble, Basketbox, Flat Earth, Bricks, Terminal, Orange Box, Dice, Package, or Touch Grass than it is about selecting how much of the hardware will actually be covered—and accepting that a skin is not the same thing as a replacement shell.
The Steam Machine’s removable faceplate changes the value proposition
Valve built the 2026 Steam Machine around a small cubic chassis with a removable magnetic faceplate. The 2TB versions include two additional faceplates, one red fabric and one solid walnut, alongside the standard panel. PC Gamer’s review found the walnut piece to be real wood rather than a printed wood-look surface, while Valve’s current Steam hardware lineup positions those alternate plates as part of the premium-storage model’s bundle.That matters because dbrand’s most inexpensive option, the $22.95 Essential Kit, only covers the faceplate. It is the direct rival to Valve’s swappable front-panel approach: a cheap visual change that leaves the basic black chassis intact. For someone whose Steam Machine is hidden in an entertainment cabinet, that may be the sensible level of customization.
The $42.95 Deluxe Kit is the version Vjestica’s report effectively argues for. dbrand says it includes skin pieces for the faceplate, the front I/O panel, and the top, left, and right sides of the Steam Machine. It is enough material to alter the device from every angle most people will see when it sits horizontally on a shelf.
But “full coverage,” as used casually in accessory marketing, needs a qualification here. dbrand’s own breakdown does not list the rear or underside among the covered surfaces. That is reasonable—the rear is the cable and exhaust side, and the bottom is usually out of view—but buyers expecting a fully wrapped enclosure should not infer that from photographs showing the front and upper faces. This is a precision-cut cosmetic skin set, not an all-new case.
The $52.95 Everything Kit adds a matching Steam Controller skin at a discount versus buying the two device kits separately. That is the option for a coordinated setup, but it also moves a cosmetic purchase beyond $50 before shipping and taxes. Against a Steam Machine that starts at $1,049 in the United States, the price is modest; against Valve’s included walnut faceplate on a 2TB unit, the argument is about wanting a different look rather than getting a cheaper one.
Nine of the designs were made for Valve’s cube
The headline number—51 designs—can make the new release sound like a purpose-built Steam Machine collection. It is more accurate to say dbrand has brought its broader skin catalogue to the platform and added nine Steam Machine-specific designs.PC Guide identified those exclusives as Basketbox, Terminal, Flat Earth, Bricks, Black Dice, White Dice, Package, Orange Box, and Touch Grass. Several are designed around the dimensions of Valve’s chassis rather than merely adapted from laptop or handheld layouts. Basketbox is especially dependent on the cube form: its pebble-textured pattern completes the visual joke only when it spans the front and surrounding panels.
The more conservative finishes may have wider appeal. The Shortcut’s White Marble example makes the Steam Machine resemble a decorative stone object, which is probably closer to the goal for people who bought the hardware to put it next to a television rather than under a desk. A matte, marble, leather, or plain-color wrap can also mask the Steam Machine’s default industrial-black presentation without changing the device’s footprint or requiring an aftermarket enclosure.
The loudest designs carry a different trade-off. A cardboard-style Package skin or a fuzzy Touch Grass wrap makes the hardware conspicuous, potentially creating a welcome focal point in a gaming room but defeating the “appliance-like” quality that Valve’s minimalist hardware design otherwise offers. That is not a flaw; it is the point of a skin catalogue that includes both camouflage and spectacle.
Some designs are priced above the base configuration. PC Gamer reports that dbrand’s Touch Grass and Real Black Leather options reach $60, while more conventional patterned wraps sit around the low-$40 range and solid-color versions around the mid-$30s. Buyers should check the selected design and kit together instead of assuming the product page’s lowest price represents a full-device wrap.
Application looks easier, but the hands-on evidence is still limited
The Shortcut reports no bubbles or creases during installation, crediting the Steam Machine’s straight edges and clear panel boundaries. That assessment is credible on its face: a flat-sided cube is substantially less demanding to wrap than a Steam Deck, controller, phone, or curved game console. There are no trackpads, triggers, display cutouts, or complex corner transitions on the main enclosure.Still, this is one tester’s early experience, not a broad record of owner installations. dbrand provides a video-instruction link and says its cutting machinery works to tolerances within one-thousandth of a millimeter, but those are vendor claims. No independent outlet has yet published a long-term assessment covering adhesion around the Steam Machine’s edges, residue after removal, or how the skins look after months in a warm entertainment center.
The company does promise that removal leaves no adhesive residue and says its materials provide scratch protection. Those are useful assurances for anyone worried about preserving the original finish, especially given the Steam Machine’s resale value and short supply. They should not be read as a promise that the vinyl itself will remain unmarked, or that a textured design will look pristine after repeated handling and dusting.
There is also a difference between covering an appliance and modifying it. A vinyl wrap requires no chassis disassembly, does not replace ventilation hardware, and preserves access to the removable faceplate underneath. That makes it a lower-risk cosmetic change than the custom cases and 3D-printed shells now emerging around Valve’s hardware.
Dbrand’s “backup plan” arrives after Valve killed the bigger idea
The skin release comes less than two months after Valve stopped dbrand from selling a Portal 2-inspired Companion Cube enclosure for the Steam Machine. Dbrand acknowledged that it had developed the product without permission to use Valve’s intellectual property; Tom’s Hardware reported that Valve required sales and promotional materials to stop, and dbrand said it would refund customers.That history explains why the current collection is strategically more conservative. A vinyl skin does not alter the Steam Machine’s structure, and dbrand’s original designs can avoid direct use of Valve-owned Portal imagery. The company still indulges in references: PC Guide noted that Orange Box and Package evoke Valve properties, but neither is a literal Companion Cube product.
There is an important practical consequence. The cancelled $99 Companion Cube was an enclosure-style transformation with a physical silhouette that changed the machine’s identity. The new skins are visually transformative, especially on the top and sides, but they cannot recreate that hardware-level effect. Anyone waiting for dbrand to revive the Portal-themed case should treat this catalogue as a replacement product line, not a temporary stand-in before a licensed version appears.
Valve has also made CAD files for the Steam Machine’s external shell available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license. That has opened a separate route for owners and makers who want custom faceplates or enclosures. It does not give commercial accessory makers a free pass to sell Valve-IP designs, and Valve has warned that damage caused by a shell swap is not covered by warranty.
The right kit depends on where the Steam Machine lives
For a Steam Machine placed in plain sight, the Deluxe Kit is the meaningful product; the Essential Kit changes only the face presented to the room. Owners of the 2TB model should consider whether Valve’s included solid walnut panel already solves the décor problem before paying for another finish. The walnut panel offers a genuine material change, whereas the skins create the appearance and texture of materials over the original housing.For everyone else, dbrand’s collection fills a gap Valve has left open. Valve has not announced a continuing catalogue of official alternate faceplates, and supply constraints mean many reservation holders may not receive an invitation to buy their Steam Machine until late 2026. The wraps will begin shipping before that backlog is cleared, but the first ordinary customers will still need the hardware in hand before they can turn it into marble, cardboard, grass, or a basketball.
References
- Primary source: The Shortcut | Matt Swider
Published: 2026-08-03T10:14:47+00:00
I turned Valve’s Steam Machine into a living-room showpiece with dbrand’s new skins
From the Basketbox to a cube of White Marble, dbrand’s Steam Machine skins cater to all tasteswww.theshortcut.com - Related coverage: pcgamer.com
- Related coverage: tomshardware.com
Valve says that Steam Machine reservations won't be fulfilled until ‘the end of this year’ — company also releases CAD files for the PC console’s external shell under Creative Commons | Tom's Hardware
Steam Machine fans waiting for their turn to buy the console need to be patient for a little bit more.www.tomshardware.com - Related coverage: pcgamer.com
Steam Machine reservation queue should be caught up by the end of 2026, Valve says | PC Gamer
Whether this is good news or bad news is a matter of individual perspective.www.pcgamer.com - Related coverage: dbrand.com
Valve Gaming Skins & Wraps » dbrand
dbrand is the global leader in device customization. Founded on 11.11.11. Run by robots.dbrand.com
- Related coverage: dbrand.com
dbrand » Official Shop
dbrand is the global leader in device customization. Founded on 11.11.11. Run by robots. - Related coverage: 9to5google.com
Valve shuts down Dbrand's coolest Steam Machine accessory
Dbrand announced that users who ordered the Companion Cube skin for the Steam Machine will not, in fact, find companionship...9to5google.com - Related coverage: pcguide.com
dbrand launches large collection of Steam Machine skins after being forced to cancel Companion Cube case - PC Guide
dbrand has released a large collection of skins designed specifically for the Steam Machine, including a couple Valve references.www.pcguide.com - Related coverage: androidauthority.com
Valve has killed dbrand's excellent Steam Machine case
At Valve's insistence, accessory maker dbrand has canceled sales of its unlicensed Portal-themed enclosure for the Steam Machine.www.androidauthority.com - Related coverage: 9to5google.com
dbrand - 9to5Google
dbrand makes skins, cases, and screen protectors for Google Pixel, OnePlus, and more Android phones.
9to5google.com
- Related coverage: steamdeckhq.com
dBrand Will Still Make Steam Machine Products After Companion Cube Flub - Steam Deck HQ
Despite the screw up with the Companion Cube, dBrand will still be making products for the Steam Machine.steamdeckhq.com - Related coverage: milled.com
dbrand emails | Milled
Browse 334 emails from dbrand and 40+ million ecommerce emails on Milled.milled.com - Related coverage: frandroid.com
Le magnifique skin Companion Cube de la Steam Machine ne sortira pas, à cause de Valve — Frandroid
La marque dbrand ne pourra pas commercialiser un skin Companion Cube pour la Steam Machine. Valve a demandé à ce que le produit ne soit pas commercialisé.www.frandroid.com - Related coverage: tomshardware.com
Valve threatens legal action against Dbrand over its unsanctioned Portal 2-inspired Companion Cube — edgy accessories manufacturer kills product after asking for licensing deal, admits it didn't have 'the right to make it' | Tom's Hardware
A characteristically dumb move by dbrand.www.tomshardware.com - Related coverage: ag.ny.gov
- Related coverage: gamesradar.com
Valve assures everyone on the Steam Machine reservation list they "will have the option to purchase by the end of this year" | GamesRadar+
Valve has published a blog post saying that everyone currently on the reserve list for its new Steam Machine will have the chance to purchase one before 2027.www.gamesradar.com - Related coverage: techspot.com
Valve's Steam Machine is here: starts at $1,049 for 512GB or $1,349 for the 2TB version | TechSpot
Under the hood, the Steam Machine packs a semi-custom AMD platform: a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 4 CPU clocked up to 4.86GHz, an RDNA 3 GPU with 28...www.techspot.com - Related coverage: etsy.com
- Related coverage: noobfeed.com
Steam Machine Hands-On Overview Covering Hardware, Connectivity, and Gaming Features | NoobFeed
Steam Machine is designed to bring a PC gaming experience into a living room-friendly form factor while running SteamOS. It combines a compact design, built...www.noobfeed.com - Related coverage: allthings.how
Steam Machine: Release Date, Price, and Full Specs (June 2026)
Valve's living-room PC starts at $1,049, ships June 30, and requires a registration draw before June 25.allthings.how - Related coverage: engadget.com
Valve's Steam Machine Starts At $1,049 With 512GB Storage And No Controller
Valve's Steam Machine will cost well over $1,000, and that's without a controller.www.engadget.com - Related coverage: steamstock.app
- Related coverage: gametrader.sg
Steam Machine Launches 30 June — Reserve Yours Before 1 AM SGT Tonight | GameTrader.SG - BLOG
Valve’s Steam Machine launches 30 June from USD $1,049. Singapore gamers can enter the reservation lottery — but it closes tonight at 1:00 AM SGT.www.gametrader.sg - Related coverage: neonlightsmedia.com
How to Preorder the New Valve Steam Machine and Pricing — NeonLightsMedia
I break down everything you need to know about Valve's new Steam Machine, including the hefty $1,049 price tag, the reservation queue, and storage specs.www.neonlightsmedia.com
- Related coverage: pcgamesn.com
Steam Machine review - it's all about the games you play
Valve's tiny box of gaming wonders delivers on ease of use, but its price is a non-starter, and it only really suits certain games.www.pcgamesn.com - Related coverage: windowscentral.com
Valve announces Steam Machine, Controller, and VR headset | Windows Central
Valve has announced the Steam Machine, a console-like PC running SteamOS with AMD Zen 4 power. it's 6x stronger than Steam Deck, targets 4K 60 FPS, and launches in early 2026 alongside a new Steam Controller.www.windowscentral.com - Related coverage: tomsguide.com
Steam Machine Is Back: live updates on Valve's console comeback and Steam Frame VR launch | Tom's Guide
Valve has a trio of new Steam devices including a console, headset and controllerwww.tomsguide.com - Related coverage: techradar.com
How to build a Steam Machine-killing compact gaming PC for less | TechRadar
Orange box? Black box!www.techradar.com - Related coverage: forbes.com
dbrand Wants You To ‘Touch Grass’ This April Fool’s Day
The prolific skin and case maker releases a tongue-in-cheek limited edition line-up for over 100 products.www.forbes.com - Related coverage: mobilesyrup.com
Go 'touch grass' with Dbrand's latest smartphone skins
Dbrand's excellently-timed 'Touch Grass' collection gives customers the ability to perpetually touch grass without logging off.mobilesyrup.com - Related coverage: milled.com
- Related coverage: inkl.com
"Touch Grass without touching grass" with these…
A lot of companies are putting out fake announcements for April Fools' Day, but not dBrand. You can really get hilarious Touch Grass skins for Xbox,…www.inkl.com - Related coverage: inkl.com
'We've never met a cult we didn't want to be a part…
Head-turning for the right reasons?www.inkl.com - Related coverage: steamdeckhq.com
dBrand's Touch Grass Steam Deck Skin Makes A Return For April Fools - Steam Deck HQ
dBrand has brought back the Touch Grass Steam Deck skin from last year, giving us a chance to get connected with nature while gaming.steamdeckhq.com - Related coverage: notebookcheck-cn.com
dbrand 推出 51 款完全合法的 Steam Machine 机身贴膜 - Notebookcheck-cn.com News
dbrand 已为 Valve 的 Steam Machine、Steam Controller 和 Steam Deck 推出了 51 款“完全合法”的贴膜，其中包括 9 款配有配套手柄贴膜的新设计。此次发布是在 Valve 发出停止侵权通知后进行的，该通知曾迫使 dbrand 取消了其广受欢迎的、未经授权的“伴侣立方体”手机壳。 产品预计将于8月下旬开始发货。
www.notebookcheck-cn.com
- Related coverage: windowscentral.com
"We’re going to regret that decision for a very long time": RIP to the amazing Steam Machine Portal Companion Cube case Dbrand made without asking Valve first | Windows Central
Dbrand didn't get a license for its Companion Cube Steam Machine case, leading to a Valve takedown.www.windowscentral.com