ANBERNIC could be barred from selling its handhelds in the US

ANBERNIC has made quite a name for itself in the world of retro gaming thanks to its impressive selection of retro handhelds. However, if you were planning to buy a new ANBERNIC device, like the newly announced RG DDS, there’s some concerning news for you.

The ESA has filed its suggestions for the USTR’s “Notorious Markets” list (spotted via Retrohandhelds). Alongside sites and repackers that offer pirated game downloads, the association has called out ANBERNIC as one of the biggest threats to the gaming industry.

The USTR’s “Notorious Markets” list consists of websites, users, and companies that rights holders in the gaming industry consider among the biggest threats to their existence. Historically, this list has included torrent sites, game-crack markets, and other sources that offer illegal game downloads.

The ESA has asked the USTR to classify ANBERNIC as a “superfake,” implying that it sells high-quality counterfeit products. The ESA’s filing states that ANBERNIC offers its handhelds bundled with memory cards preloaded with unauthorized copies of video games published by ESA members. Because this allows customers to play titles they haven’t legally purchased from the original publishers, the ESA considers it a “superfake.”

ANBERNIC’s inclusion on the ESA’s recommendation list does not automatically designate it as a superfake or place it on the final Notorious Markets list. The USTR will make the ultimate determination regarding which entities are officially listed.

However, if the USTR agrees with the ESA’s description of ANBERNIC and adds it to the official list of notorious markets, ANBERNIC could be prevented from selling its handhelds in the US — or it may be prohibited from bundling them with preloaded memory cards. We’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, if you were considering buying an ANBERNIC handheld, you might want to get a jump on it, just in case the USTR bars the company from selling them in the US.