The American Entertainment Software Association (ESA), representing the interests of game publishers, has called on US authorities to intensify the fight against retro consoles that are sold with thousands of unlicensed games, including those from the manufacturer Anbernic.
The ESA proposes including such devices in the annual Notorious Markets List, prepared by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. This list includes platforms and services suspected of facilitating piracy and copyright infringement.
According to the organization, some handheld consoles are sold with memory cards containing hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of unlicensed games. The ESA compares such devices to counterfeit luxury goods.
The association demands verification of game licenses, control over the content of memory cards, and blocking of sellers who repeatedly offer pirated products. It also calls on marketplaces to cooperate with customs services and copyright holders.
For now, this is only a proposal from an industry organization, not a decision by US authorities. Inclusion on the list does not mean a ban on the sale of all retro consoles: the presence of unlicensed games in the package plays a key role.