It will come as no surprise that retrogaming, the trend of playing vintage consoles and video games, is exploding in popularity. This passion for classics from the 80s and 90s attracts money… and therefore counterfeiters.
A goldmine for counterfeiters
In Italy, the Turin financial police have dismantled a network of traffickers specializing in the counterfeiting of retro consoles and video games. The authorities seized nearly 12,000 consoles containing more than 47 million illegal copies of games, for an estimated value of 47.5 million euros.
These consoles imitated iconic models produced by Nintendo, Sega and Atari, but did not comply with European Union safety standards. The counterfeit devices were equipped with uncertified batteries and electrical circuits “, said Alessandro Langella, head of the economic crimes unit of the Turin financial police. Imported from China, these counterfeits were intended to be sold in specialist stores or online, fueling a growing black market.
Among the counterfeit games were iconic titles like Mario Bros., Street Fighter and other games from Star Wars. These works, symbols of the golden age of video games, have contributed to the rise of retrogaming. On social networks, the hashtag #retrogaming has accumulated more than 170 million publications, proof of the worldwide craze for these vintage games.
Retro consoles and games are now selling for a fortune, especially on online resale platforms. For example, a Super Nintendo in good condition with games can sell for between $130 and $360, depending on its condition. This increase in the value of retro video games is unfortunately accompanied by an increase in illegal copies, which makes the market increasingly complex to regulate.
A total of nine people have been arrested in the case. If convicted of trafficking in counterfeit goods, they face up to eight years in prison. The seized games have been destroyed.
This counterfeiting case highlights the growing fascination with retrogaming, but also the astronomical value that some games can reach. In 2021, a sealed copy of the famous Super Mario 64 was sold at auction for over $1.5 million, breaking all records. A few weeks later, another record was broken: a cartridge of Super Mario Bros.in immaculate condition and sealed since 1985, was sold for $2 million!
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