Anbernic targeted by the ESA, which wants it listed as a “superfake”
By Tgames · · 2 min read
2026 update: Anbernic is now dropping microSD cards from its bundles; read on in our news story Anbernic drops microSD cards from its handhelds after the ESA move.
The ESA, which represents US video game publishers, is asking the United States to list Anbernic among the “notorious markets” for counterfeiting.
The ESA's request
Every year, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) publishes a report on “ Notorious Markets ”, the sites and manufacturers deemed harmful to intellectual property. In its submission (docket USTR-2026-0529-0010), revealed on October 12, 2026 by TorrentFreak and Retro Handhelds, theEntertainment Software Association explicitly names Anbernic, whose company name is Shenzhen YangLiMing Electronic Technology, active since 2017. It asks for it to be classified as a “ superfake ».
What the ESA objects to
What are the consequences?
This is only a recommendation: the USTR alone decides what goes into its report. A listing could pave the way for a sales ban in the United States, possibly limited to bundles with a preloaded card. Other emulation handheld manufacturers could be targeted in turn. Anbernic has made no statement.
There is one sign, though: on October 15, Retro Handhelds noticed that Anbernic was removing from its store the options sold with a microSD card. On the RG SP, only the 16 GB card containing the system remains, and the RG Rotate options have disappeared. Anbernic has not said whether the two matters are related.
What this changes for you
An Anbernic console remains legal, and so do emulators. The problem is the unlicensed games supplied with them. Buy the console on its own, without a games card, and use copies of your own cartridges and discs, or homebrew. That is what we have always advised, for example for theAnbernic RG DS Plus or the RG DDS.
Sources: Time Extension · Retro Handhelds
The ESA, which represents US video game publishers, is asking the United States to list Anbernic among the “notorious markets” for counterfeiting.
The ESA's request
Every year, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) publishes a report on “ Notorious Markets ”, the sites and manufacturers deemed harmful to intellectual property. In its submission (docket USTR-2026-0529-0010), revealed on October 12, 2026 by TorrentFreak and Retro Handhelds, theEntertainment Software Association explicitly names Anbernic, whose company name is Shenzhen YangLiMing Electronic Technology, active since 2017. It asks for it to be classified as a “ superfake ».
What the ESA objects to
- The consoles are allegedly sold with a memory card or internal storage holding “tens of thousands” of games copied without authorization. According to the ESA, their appeal “relies solely” on this ready-to-use library, which removes the technical barrier to piracy.
- The software allegedly comes from opaque supply chains and could be modified without its authors' knowledge. The usual safeguards would be missing: security review, updates, code signing.
- The ESA even goes as far as mentioning malware linked to organized crime or to states.
What are the consequences?
This is only a recommendation: the USTR alone decides what goes into its report. A listing could pave the way for a sales ban in the United States, possibly limited to bundles with a preloaded card. Other emulation handheld manufacturers could be targeted in turn. Anbernic has made no statement.
There is one sign, though: on October 15, Retro Handhelds noticed that Anbernic was removing from its store the options sold with a microSD card. On the RG SP, only the 16 GB card containing the system remains, and the RG Rotate options have disappeared. Anbernic has not said whether the two matters are related.
What this changes for you
An Anbernic console remains legal, and so do emulators. The problem is the unlicensed games supplied with them. Buy the console on its own, without a games card, and use copies of your own cartridges and discs, or homebrew. That is what we have always advised, for example for theAnbernic RG DS Plus or the RG DDS.
Sources: Time Extension · Retro Handhelds
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