ESA Reportedly Seeks US Notorious Markets Listing for ROM-Bundled Handhelds
The trade group says plug-and-play retro handhelds preloaded with thousands of games act as the functional equivalent of superfakes, per a document highlighted by VGC.
The Entertainment Software Association has reportedly asked the US government to add plug-and-play emulation handhelds to the Notorious Markets List, according to a document highlighted by VGC.
In the document, the US video games trade group described illicit plug-and-play consoles and handheld devices as the functional equivalent of superfakes, and pointed to retro handhelds that arrive with thousands of games pre-loaded on a microSD card.
The ESA argued that these devices remove the technical friction that once separated mainstream consumers from video game piracy, and it proposed targeting sellers who bundle handhelds with ROMs.
In October 2025, the ESA said Battlefield 6 sold 7 million copies in three days.
Quick answers
What did the ESA ask the US government to do?
The ESA reportedly asked for plug-and-play emulation handhelds to be added to the Notorious Markets List.
What kind of devices are involved?
The ESA statement mentions retro handhelds that come with thousands of games pre-loaded on a microSD card.
Who would the ESA target?
It proposed targeting sellers who bundle handhelds with ROMs.