Lenovo says it's digging into allegations that its China-only G10 handheld is being used for piracy — third parties may be including illicit games to inflate prices in the gray market

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Image credit: Lenovo

Lenovo’s G02 retro‑gaming handheld has become the center of a growing controversy after users who purchased the device reported it was preloaded with thousands of illegal game ROMs. In response, Lenovo has confirmed that it has launched an investigation into the matter.

Background on the G02

• The G02 carries Lenovo branding but was not designed or manufactured by Lenovo. It is a white‑label device produced by a third‑party manufacturer and re‑branded for sale.
• The device is subject to a strict regional brand‑licensing agreement that limits sales to the Chinese market. Lenovo does not authorize sales outside China, including on third‑party platforms such as AliExpress.
• Because of this restriction, the G02 never appeared on Lenovo’s official website or marketing channels, and its existence remained largely unknown until foreign customers bought it on Chinese e‑commerce sites.

Lenovo’s Official Stance

“Devices officially distributed by Lenovo or its authorized licensees in the China market do not include memory cards or preloaded games. Any software or content found on devices sold outside of authorized channels may have been added by third parties without Lenovo’s knowledge or approval,” a company spokesperson told Tom’s Hardware.

Key points from the statement:

• Lenovo does not sell or distribute the G02 outside China under any circumstances.
• Authorized shipments do not include memory cards or preloaded games.
• Any content added after the device leaves authorized channels is the responsibility of the user, as stated in the instruction manual.

Reports of Preloaded ROMs

• Users on AliExpress reported receiving the G02 with tens of thousands of preinstalled games. One review claimed the device arrived with ≈40,000 games, far exceeding the initial reports.
• The G02 supports over 30 emulators, making it capable of running a large library of Sony, Sega, and Nintendo ROMs.
• AliExpress sellers generally avoid explicitly advertising the G02 as bundled with preloaded games, likely to sidestep copyright concerns and platform policies.

Investigation and Next Steps

Lenovo says it will:

1. Thoroughly examine its supply chain, distribution networks, and vendor partnerships to identify any unauthorized modifications.
2. Take swift and appropriate action against any parties found to have added illegal ROMs.
3. Monitor the situation to prevent further gray‑market imports that could expose the company to legal challenges, especially from rights holders such as Nintendo.

The company’s priority is to address the issue before it escalates into legal disputes across multiple jurisdictions.