Italy’s financial police announced on Friday said they have successfully dismantled a trafficking ring involved in the distribution of counterfeit vintage video game consoles imported from China.
These consoles contained numerous pirated titles from the 1980s and 90s, including popular games like Mario Bros., Street Fighter, and Star Wars.
Authorities seized approximately 12,000 counterfeit consoles, which housed over 47 million pirated video games, with an estimated total value exceeding €47.5 million (around $52.5 million).
Alessandro Langella, head of the economic crime unit for Turin’s financial police, reported that the seized items included not only the consoles but also hundreds of licenses for the pirated software.
The operation comes amid a resurgence in the popularity of retro gaming, a trend that has seen significant commercial growth. Langella noted that the demand for classic games from the 1980s and 1990s is part of a broader “retrogaming” movement, which has become increasingly popular among gamers.
The counterfeit consoles were found to be non-compliant with European technical and safety standards, raising concerns over their safety for consumers. They were imported from China with the intent to sell them through specialized stores and online platforms, including major sites like Amazon, which cooperated with the investigation.
As a result of the operation, nine individuals in Italy have been arrested and are facing charges related to the trafficking of counterfeit goods. If convicted, they could face up to eight years in prison. The investigation highlights ongoing efforts by Italian authorities to combat intellectual property theft and protect consumers from unsafe products.