A Steam Machine owner has transformed Valve’s new gaming system into a Portal-inspired Companion Cube, releasing the necessary 3D-printing files and instructions for free online. The Steam Machine is Valve’s incredibly popular new piece of tech, which transforms the PC gaming experience into a simple console-like interface via SteamOS.
One of the Steam Machine’s best features is that fans can swap out all the plates on the system for whole new ones, either custom or official in the future. As such, tech accessory manufacturer dBrand previously announced a Companion Cube enclosure designed specifically to take advantage of these swappable plates, paying homage to 2007’s Portal, also created by Valve. The idea attracted more than 15,000 registrations of interest on its first day, eventually becoming dBrand’s second-fastest-selling product the day preorders opened. Unfortunately, dBrand developed and sold the case without first obtaining permission to use Valve’s Portal intellectual property, eventually scrapping the product altogether to the disappointment of fans. With the Steam Machine community left without an easy way to buy a much-requested design, it appears it has found an alternative.
Steam Machine Fan Turns Valve’s Console Into a Portal Companion Cube
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Image via Jaron, Printables -
Image via Valve -
Image via Valve
Now, it seems that the Steam Machine’s Companion Cube skin is back on the table, as creator Jaron has uploaded a set of schematics and instructions on Printables for how fans can 3D assemble their own Portal-inspired plates at home. Jaron is not selling these STL files, nor are they selling complete enclosures; instead, the uploader is letting the community create them on their own with a set of printable components, a parts list, written assembly steps, and supporting instructional videos. Steam Machine owners can choose between the Weighted Companion Cube design, featuring Portal‘s familiar heart symbol, or the standard Weighted Storage Cube, featuring the Aperture Science logo. Fans should note that this is a fan-made project and not something officially handed down by Valve.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Players who want to make their own Steam Machine Companion Cube should be aware that this project seems like far more than a simple 3D print that the console can slide into. Assembly includes magnets, screws, superglue, a soldering iron, and multiple filament colors, among several additional materials and tools. The instructions mention that the back remains open so the system’s fan and rear connections are not obstructed, while the Aperture Science logo is hollowed out to add additional openings for airflow. Jaron has also taken to Reddit to state that the bottom vent remains unobstructed and claims the Steam Machine’s GPU and CPU stay in the low-60-degree range under load, as fans voiced cooling concerns online.
Allowing fans to make their own Portal-inspired Steam Machine is a nice way to take advantage of the console’s simple modular design, and is especially helpful if fans want to further customize or print replacement pieces throughout the years. However, as a whole, Jaron’s Companion Cube Steam Machine files certainly create a less accessible way to have a custom Valve console, requiring a capable 3D printer, numerous materials, and the confidence to complete a fairly involved assembly. Despite those concerns, the enthusiastic community response surrounding this project suggests that dBrand had the right idea all along in creating a Portal-themed Steam Machine, even if the commercial version never reached customers. Given Valve’s recent statement on tech prices, it may also be a cheaper option than an official product.
Besides the very involved creation process, another downside of a DIY project like this is that printed results could vary widely depending on the printer, filament, settings, and overall assembly quality, which could lead to less-than-stellar results for members of the Steam Machine community that aren’t used to tinkering with their devices. Nevertheless, Jaron’s project gives technically inclined Steam Machine owners in its launch window a way to recreate one of the most appealing accessory ideas that the console has seen so far. The commercial Companion Cube may have been incinerated before launch, but Jaron’s free files ensure Steam Machine fans willing to build their own version can still keep the Portal-inspired idea alive.