{
  "id": 14419602,
  "title": "ESA flags retro console maker Anbernic for inclusion on US government's Notorious Market List",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/esa-flags-retro-console-maker-anbernic-for-inclusion-on-us",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-14T09:59:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GamesIndustry",
    "slug": "gamesindustry",
    "url": "https://www.gamesindustry.biz/esa-flags-retro-console-maker-anbernic-for-inclusion-on-us-governments-notorious-market-list"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has suggested that retro console manufacturer Anbernic should be included on the United States government's Notorious Market List. This list, published annually by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), highlights markets that engage in or enable significant trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy. Anbernic, a Chinese-based company, produces handheld devices that emulate retro gaming systems from companies like Nintendo, PlayStation, and Sega. Last year, Anbernic halted shipments to the US following the introduction of tariffs. The ESA argues that Anbernic normalizes hardware-based piracy by distributing illicit catalogs through well-designed consumer products. By marketing these devices through regular retail channels, the company shifts responsibilities for monitoring, investigation, notice, and remediation onto publishers and marketplaces. Anbernic devices are frequently sold with memory cards preloaded with unauthorized copies of copyrighted video games from ESA members, allowing immediate play without legal purchase or license. These copies also circumvent the technological measures used to control access and copying of member games. The ESA emphasizes that these consoles and handheld devices function similarly to counterfeit products. A single device can replace legal purchases across various game publishers and console generations, diverting sales from authorized games, compilations, subscriptions, remasters, and licensed retro hardware. The ESA points out that these devices pose security, privacy, and financial risks; bypass player and child safety protections; and distort competition, burdening governments and rights holders. The ESA recommends that the USTR add other piracy-related items and services, such as cracked game sources, repackers, linking sites, unlicensed digital goods marketplaces, and commercial cheat markets, to the Notorious Markets List. G2A, a commercial marketplace, is specifically mentioned under the \"unauthorized digital goods marketplaces\" category, with the ESA noting that the platform previously denied selling in-game accounts or items but facilitates such sales at scale. To tackle these problems, the ESA has requested the USTR outline seven steps for governments and market operators to follow, including measures to address the issue.",
  "summary": "The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has recommended that retro console maker Anbernic be added to the US government's Notorious Market List. Read more",
  "key_points": [
    "ESA suggests Anbernic for US Notorious Market List",
    "Retro console maker produces hardware-based piracy devices",
    "Devices sold with unauthorized game copies from ESA members"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}