Sillbernic pulls controversial firmware update, which enabled Rome downloads from the Internet

Update [Thu 27th Feb 2025, 9:15am]: As stated by Matt Sephton, Anbernic pulled the controversial firmware update from his website.

Version 1.0.6 – which contained an app with which users could download ROMs directly from WLAN, is no longer available.

Original history: If you have had an ANBERNIC, POWKIDDY or MIYOO device, you will now know the drills with a cheap microSD card with poorly curated ROMs, which are usually delivered from the business from which you bought the device.

In view of the fact that the emulation is pretty much the only reason to buy one of these products, most customers keep an eye on this practice, especially because a) many of the ROMs do not even work properly for the relevant system, and b) The standard practice is usually in it Hmnaturally chopped collection).

So far, this legal gray area has not been serious enough so that IP owners could take note of it, but a new firmware update for Anbernian devices could change all of this.

As reported by Retro Handhelds and Hyperplay RPG, the latest firmware update for the XX area shows an app with which users can download games directly via WLAN and even go so far to configure them properly in the user interface of the system. It is basically like the eShop, but the Anbernic does not have for IP – and obviously no money changes the owner.

It may seem churical to question this approach, considering that these devices primarily provide a number of ROMs, but as we have already stated, there is a certain level of plausible denial with microSD cards. If you want, retailers could remove the cards before selling the devices in areas such as North America and Europe, which causes the problem on the page.

By baking ROM download functions into the operating system itself, the Anbernic has made it even clearer that its handhelds are almost exclusively designed for piracy. In China this cannot be such a problem, but in the West (and Japan) we imagine that companies such as Nintendo, Sega and Sony will have a huge view of the procedure.

It remains to be seen whether this development will have any effects, since so far the rival and its rivals have escaped the view of the main owners. However, it feels like the tiger is being deleted the tiger, and that may not be the smartest step.

On the flipside, “piracy” is the only reason why we can play many games that are no longer legally available for sale. Perhaps it is not worth building this from the perspective of a consumer?