US Gaming Industry Demands Action Against Piracy Amid Threat to Cheap Retro Consoles

American publishers are pushing for US authorities to take strict action against cheap handheld consoles bundled with pirated games.

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents game publishers in the United States, has called on US authorities to step up their efforts against retro consoles sold with thousands of unlicensed games, including devices from manufacturer Anbernic.

The ESA proposes adding such devices to the annual Notorious Markets List compiled by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The list targets marketplaces and services suspected of facilitating piracy and copyright infringement.

According to the organization, certain handheld consoles are sold with memory cards preloaded with hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of unlicensed games. The ESA compares these devices to counterfeit luxury goods.

The association demands that authorities check game licenses, inspect the contents of memory cards, and block sellers that repeatedly offer pirated products. It also urges marketplaces to cooperate with customs services and rightsholders.

For now, this is merely a proposal from an industry organization rather than a decision by US authorities. Inclusion in the list would not mean an outright ban on the sale of all retro consoles, as the presence of unlicensed games included in the bundle plays a decisive role.