The Entertainment Software Association, the US video games trade group, has reportedly asked the US government to add “plug and play” emulation handhelds to the Notorious Markets List. That's a collection of marketplaces, sites, and sellers accused of selling counterfeit goods or engaging in piracy, and while there are plenty of bad egg gadgets out there, the ESA could open an accusatory can of worms.

In a document highlighted by VGC, the ESA specifically mentions retro handhelds that come with thousands of games pre-loaded on a microSD card. “In the video game sector, illicit plug-and-play consoles and handheld devices are the functional equivalent of superfakes,” claims the ESA. While you could assume the body is talking specifically about the cheapest plug-and-play gadgets out there with certain Italian plumbers plastered over their boxes, its statement risks targeting legit devices.

“They can look and feel like legitimate, mass-market consumer electronics – molded housings, color displays, polished user interfaces, retail packaging, product reviews, warranty-like representations, and listings on familiar e-commerce platforms. Yet their commercial appeal rests solely on a concealed memory card or internal drive loaded with hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of unauthorized copies of copyright-protected games.”

” The association then proclaims that “the result is not merely a low-quality electric device sold from the margins of commerce.

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