Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jul 9
Lenovo Pulls $60 G02 Handheld as Copyrighted Nintendo and Sega Games Spark Backlash
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jul 9

Lenovo Pulls $60 G02 Handheld as Copyrighted Nintendo and Sega Games Spark Backlash

3 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Jul 9

Summary

  • Lenovo has removed the $60 G02 handheld from sale across marketplaces after months of scrutiny over devices sold outside China with copyrighted Nintendo and Sega games preloaded.
  • The withdrawal follows failed efforts to distance the company from the product, including claims it was a China-only licensed device and that third-party sellers added the ROMs.
  • By June 15, the handheld had resurfaced under the Sunyao G02 name, but Retro Dodo reported Sunyao appeared linked to Lenovo, intensifying international attention.
  • Lenovo now says the G02 came through a regional brand-licensing agreement for the China market and was never part of its official global product portfolio.
  • The episode stands out because preloaded-ROM emulation devices are common on AliExpress, Temu and Amazon, but rarely tied so directly to a major global tech brand.

Insights

Will another major tech company risk entering the lucrative but legally fraught retro handheld market?
Why do pirated products from major brands still thrive on platforms with advanced AI protection systems?
When a global brand licenses its name, who is truly responsible for the final product sold online?