Emulation handhelds have exploded in popularity over the past few years. But despite their growing mainstream appeal, they still exist in a legal and ethical gray area when it comes to piracy. While emulators themselves are perfectly legal, many devices come bundled with microSD cards crammed full of sketchy pre-loaded ROMs.
Recently, this practice landed an Italian YouTuber in serious legal trouble. Authorities threatened them with steep fines and up to three years in prison for “promoting piracy.” While that case involves several moving parts, such as YouTube, customs inspections, and outdated Italian copyright laws, it raises an important question for everyday gamers: What does this mean for you, the casual retro enthusiast just trying to relive some childhood favorites?