this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2026
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Piracy: ꜱᴀɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴇᴀꜱ

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The correct term is: bootleg, in this case. As in for example: the real Switch 2 is expensive, so bootleg imitations (knock offs) exist sold for cheap. You can encounter that in a literal market where they are selling fake iPhones, watches, handbags & etc.

You could 3D print a game console but it’ll be obvious as it won’t work without internal components (GPU / CPU), you need to obtain a schematic of its design in order to really create a copy. An iPhone is made from aluminum for example.

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[–] oatscoop@midwest.social 18 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Yes, but realistically only for much older hardware. Usually such "counterfeit" systems are based around an FPGA, e.g. MiSTer. The advantage is the hardware itself doesn't violate IP laws since it's a generic FPGA, while the legally questionable "programing" to make it copy a console's architecture (e.g. an N64) can distributed through decentralized channels on the internet.

Sometimes you'll get a reverse engineered System on a Chip like the C64 Direct to TV, but only where there's little to no risk of getting sued.

With modern hardware your end product will almost certainly be more expensive than the real deal (if you're able to pull it off in the first place). The company whose hardware you're copying is also far more motivated to find and destroy you. Hacking the real hardware to run pirated games makes much more sense.