Anbernic drops microSD cards from its handhelds after the ESA move
By Tgames · · 1 min read
Singled out by the ESA, Anbernic is removing from its store the versions of its handhelds sold with a microSD card. The RG SP now only comes in 16 GB.
The microSD cards disappear
On 15 October 2026, the Retro Handhelds site noticed thatAnbernic was removing from its official store the versions of its handhelds sold with a microSD card. We checked on 20 October:
Why it matters
In the scene, these cards are widely believed to ship loaded with games, which is what gives Chinese emulation handhelds their bad reputation with publishers. A few days earlier, theESA, which represents the US video game industry, had asked the US trade authorities to look into this market, as we explained in our news on Anbernic and the ESA. Anbernic has made no statement: the link between the two remains an inference.
What it changes for you
The handhelds are still on sale, and emulation is legal with your own games. You will simply need to get your own microSD card and install a firmware on it: see our tutorial on handheld firmwares.
Sources: Retro Handhelds · Anbernic RG SP · Archived copy (14 August 2026)
The microSD cards disappear
On 15 October 2026, the Retro Handhelds site noticed thatAnbernic was removing from its official store the versions of its handhelds sold with a microSD card. We checked on 20 October:
- the RG SP, offered in August in 16 GB, 16 + 64 GB and 16 + 128 GB according to an archived copy of its page, is now only sold in 16 GB, the internal memory that holds the system (a single 16 + 64 GB variant remains listed, in pink, for the United States);
- the RG Rotate, running Android, now only comes as the “Standard Version (No SD Card)”.
Why it matters
In the scene, these cards are widely believed to ship loaded with games, which is what gives Chinese emulation handhelds their bad reputation with publishers. A few days earlier, theESA, which represents the US video game industry, had asked the US trade authorities to look into this market, as we explained in our news on Anbernic and the ESA. Anbernic has made no statement: the link between the two remains an inference.
What it changes for you
The handhelds are still on sale, and emulation is legal with your own games. You will simply need to get your own microSD card and install a firmware on it: see our tutorial on handheld firmwares.
Sources: Retro Handhelds · Anbernic RG SP · Archived copy (14 August 2026)
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