Italian Authorities Seize Counterfeit Vintage Gaming Consoles Worth €47.5 Million

A significant operation by Italian law enforcement has resulted in the seizure of counterfeit vintage consoles and games valued at €47.5 million. According to reports, the seizure included almost 12,000 consoles containing over 47 million pirated games, featuring popular titles such as Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, and Star Wars. The counterfeit consoles, which originated from China, were intended for sale in specialized stores or online platforms, as stated by Alessandro Langella, the head of the economic crime unit for Turin's financial police. However, the devices were equipped with non-compliant electrical components, posing a safety risk, and were subsequently destroyed due to their failure to meet European safety standards. The investigation has led to the arrest of nine individuals, who face charges related to the trade of counterfeit goods and could potentially receive prison sentences of up to eight years. This incident follows a similar case earlier in the year, in which nine people were charged in connection with the distribution of counterfeit merchandise in China, involving characters from Final Fantasy and Nier: Automata.