Steam Machine pre-order announcement could come today, and here's a Companion Cube case for it already
Valve is hotly tipped to reveal pre-orders for its highly-anticipated console
Quick Summary
Dbrand is always one for jumping on a trend quickly, and this time it's launched a case for a device not yet available – the Steam Machine.
That could hint at an imminent announcement from Valve, as we await news on pre-orders for the console.
Last week, we revealed a couple of reasons why Valve could finally announce its pre-order phase for the Steam Machine in the coming days. And we also understand that it could even be as soon as today.
One of those was because we received a heads-up from accessory maker Dbrand about its first, dedicated Steam Machine case. Launched today, Monday 22 June, the Companion Cube resembles the in-game block from Valve's Portal and is a natural fit for the cubed Steam Machine console.
You basically pop your Steam Machine inside it and it does the same as its popular inspiration – pretty much nothing, except sit there. If you do happen to have a pressure switch in your home, you could use it to activate something, but other than that, it's purely aesthetic.
It does come with a removable front, though, and a strip where you can see the Steam Machine's LED lightbar. It also allows for air to flow through, to passively keep your console cool.
Each Dbrand Companion Cube also comes with a Test Chamber-themed skin for the Steam Controller, and a Super Button stand that doesn't actually do anything but looks good.
The bundle costs $129.95 (just shy of £100), which includes a themed "collector's" box, but if you want to save some cash, a "Poverty Cube" version is also available to order which arrives in a plain cardboard box instead.
As Dbrand says it's for those "who truly broke the bank on their Steam Machine purchase", suggesting we'll soon find out the true cost of the new console.
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The Steam Machine Companion Cube will ship from July with pre-orders being taken now. The Poverty Cube edition will ship from October, priced at $99.95.
As for the Steam Machine itself, considering the accessories are now starting to appear (and Dbrand's own announcement is now public), it is only a matter of time before Valve reveals all about its own pre-orders, shipping dates, and perhaps most importantly, price.
We'll update you the moment we find out more.

Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.
Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.
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