A major crackdown on a video game trafficking operation has occurred in Italy, resulting in the seizure of counterfeit vintage consoles and games valued at nearly 50 million euros ($55.5 million).
Among the counterfeit items were iconic titles from the 1980s and 90s, such as Mario Bros., Street Fighter, and Star Wars. The pirated consoles were replicas of renowned devices manufactured by industry giants, and were found to be non-compliant with essential safety standards.
The recent resurgence in demand for retro video games and consoles—part of a growing cultural trend known as “retrogaming”—has led to a significant rise in the market. This popularity has driven prices of these nostalgic items to unprecedented heights.
Authorities recovered around 12,000 consoles containing over 47 million pirated games, according to Alessandro Langella, head of the economic crime unit of Turin’s financial police. The estimated value of this extensive haul is 47.5 million euros ($52.5 million), which encompasses both the consoles and hundreds of licenses for the illicit software.
All seized devices were imported from China for resale in specialized shops or online, and they were equipped with non-certified batteries and electrical circuits, failing to meet EU technical and safety regulations.
The confiscated games have been destroyed, and nine individuals have been arrested and charged with trading counterfeit goods. If convicted, they could face up to eight years in prison.
The retrogaming trend has gained significant traction on social media platforms, with hashtags garnering millions of posts and highlighting the phenomenon’s rapid commercial growth. The demand for older games and second-hand consoles continues to surge, with prices for working systems reaching between £100 ($131) and £275 based on their condition. Notably, in 2021, a sealed copy of Super Mario 64 sold for over $1.5 million in an auction, setting a record and illustrating the lucrative potential of this market.
