Retro Gamer Alert: Italian Nationals Suspected of Counterfeit Trading Worth £42m Faced with Severe Criminal Charges

The Dark Truth Behind the Resale Revolution

Italian authorities have cracked down on a suspected video game counterfeiting ring, uncovering a massive operation trading in counterfeit retro games and consoles worth almost £42m (€50m / $55.5m). The nine detained Italian nationals allegedly sold some 12,000 knocked-off consoles containing 47 million fake retro games spanning iconic titles like Mario Bros., Street Fighter, and Star Wars.

The Scandal Unfolders

Prosecutors claim the counterfeit stash was sold online or delivered to specialized stores, evading safety standards and making a mockery of EU requirements. Turin police investigations revealed the illegal goods weren’t just copies of familiar games, but also console hardware using substandard electrics and batteries.

All seized items have been successfully destroyed, with the prosecution seeking to prove the value of the counterfeitted goods and impose severe financial penalties. The defendants – if found guilty – now face up to eight-year prison sentences.

The Billion-Dollar Love Affair with Retro Entertainment

Recent record-breaking sales of Super Mario Bros. and other retro games demonstrate the sky-high demand for these aged gems. Just a little over two years ago, a sealed copy of a rare Super Mario Bros sold for a staggering $2 million (£1.4 million). Not to forget the record-breaking sale of a pristine Super Mario 64 copy for $1.56 million (£112,000).