On September 13, 2024, Italy's financial police announced the seizure of approximately 12,000 counterfeit gaming consoles, valued at over 47.5 million euros ($52.5 million), as part of a crackdown on a trafficking ring.

These counterfeit devices, primarily imitations of popular consoles from Nintendo, Sega, and Atari, were imported from China and failed to comply with European safety and technical standards.

The operation led to the arrest of nine Italian nationals, who now face potential prison sentences of up to eight years for their involvement in trading counterfeit goods.

Conducted by the Guardia di Finanza in Turin, the operation involved raids across several provinces in Italy, targeting the growing black market for retro gaming products.

This crackdown comes amid a surge in the popularity of 'retrogaming,' a trend that has revived interest in classic video games and consoles, leading to increased demand for both legitimate and counterfeit products.

The #retrogaming trend has gained significant traction on social media platforms like TikTok, accumulating over 170 million posts and further fueling the market for vintage gaming.

The seized consoles were found to contain non-certified batteries and electrical circuits, raising serious safety concerns.

All confiscated items were intended for sale in specialized shops or online marketplaces, highlighting the widespread distribution of counterfeit gaming products.

Following the seizure, both the counterfeit consoles and pirated games were destroyed as part of the enforcement action.

Colonel Alessandro Langella, head of the Economic and Financial Crime Brigade in Turin, emphasized the illegal nature of the production and distribution of these consoles.

The operation reflects ongoing challenges in identifying counterfeit gaming products, prompting the creation of online guides to help consumers avoid fakes.

Despite their illegality, such bootleg consoles often cater to low-income markets where access to legitimate gaming options is limited.