YouTuber Could Face Prison for Reviewing Retro Gaming Handhelds

Retro gaming continues to hold a special place in the hearts of players around the world. Whether through modern subscription services or vintage hardware, gamers keep returning to the classics. In response to this ongoing interest, many companies now offer handheld consoles capable of running games from a wide range of older platforms, including the NES, SNES, PSP, and more. These devices often come preloaded with hundreds of games, although many of the included ROMs are not exactly legit.

That detail has become a major issue for an Italian YouTuber known as Once Were Nerd, who has spent years building a channel focused on retro gaming content. After reviewing several of these handheld systems on his channel, he is now facing legal trouble. Italian authorities recently raided his home and office, seizing dozens of devices and accusing him of promoting software piracy. If convicted, he could be fined up to $17,300 and sentenced to as many as three years in prison.

Authorities Seized Over 30 Devices Featured in His Videos

The raid took place on July 15, when agents from Italy’s Guardia di Finanza carried out a search of Once Were Nerd’s home and workplace. According to the YouTuber, the investigation centers on the retro consoles he reviewed in his videos, most of which are popular handhelds produced by companies such as ANBERNIC, Powkiddy, and TrimUI.

These devices are well known within the retro gaming community for their ability to emulate a wide variety of classic consoles. Many units are shipped with extensive libraries of games already installed, even though the majority of those ROMs have not been properly licensed. Authorities believe that by featuring these consoles on his channel, Once Were Nerd was encouraging piracy, even if unintentionally.

In a recent video, the YouTuber defended his work and stated that his intention was never to promote illegal activity. He explained that his content is focused on reviewing the hardware itself, not on endorsing the unauthorized games that may come with it. As part of his response, he also shared email exchanges with the manufacturers who provided the consoles for review.

“I have always been clear that these devices should only be used with games you already own in physical or digital form,” he said. “I never accepted sponsorship deals. My reviews were meant to be as objective as possible, and I always highlighted both the positive and negative aspects of each console.”

Despite his defense, the legal consequences remain serious. Italian copyright law allows for prosecution even in cases where pirated content is not directly distributed. Simply promoting or appearing to normalize its use can be enough to trigger legal action. Beyond the threat of fines or jail time, Once Were Nerd also faces the potential loss of his channel and all the work he has published over the years.

Now facing the uncertainty of a legal battle, Once Were Nerd has reached out to the gaming community for help. He explained that he never expected his content would put him in such a vulnerable position and that the financial burden of fighting the accusations could become overwhelming. In response, he created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds in case the situation escalates.

At the time of writing, the campaign has raised approximately $8,763, which would cover nearly half the maximum fine he could receive. While no formal charges have been filed so far, the case is still open, and he is preparing for the possibility of further legal action.