Japanese game studio criticized for anti-piracy warning as their games are $1,800 on eBay

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Fans are criticizing Japanese game company Level-5 for warning against piracy, pointing out that many of the studio’s games aren’t legally available for purchase in certain regions.

On May 13th, Level-5 announced it’s taking action against people illegally sharing its games online. The company warned that it will pursue legal options against pirates and asked fans not to download or use pirated copies of their games.

The announcement has received some criticism from fans outside of Japan, who note that many older titles are already difficult or impossible to buy internationally.

Yo-kai Watch devs criticized over piracy statement

A prime example of this issue is the Yo-kai Watch series for the 3DS. Since the Nintendo 3DS eShop closed in 2023, the games have become very rare and expensive to find.

Currently, original copies of Yo-kai Watch for the Nintendo 3DS are selling on eBay for up to $1,823. Yo-kai Watch 3 is listed for between $800 and $900.

A lot of fans felt the developers had already been neglecting players outside of their main market for quite some time before they even announced the issue.

One user questioned Level 5’s surprise at game piracy, pointing out they largely abandoned international markets years ago and only released limited versions of their games worldwide. They added that many recent Yokai Watch titles aren’t even available outside of Japan, making it unsurprising that people resort to piracy.

We’ve recently issued a notice about people illegally copying and sharing our game. You can find more information in the attached image or at the link below. We also ask that our players avoid downloading or distributing unauthorized copies of the game.

— レベルファイブ (@LEVEL5_times) May 13, 2026

Some people have pointed out that it’s getting harder to legally support the franchise because it’s not widely available in many areas.

One fan explained they understand the company’s decisions, but they’re frustrated because Yo-Kai Watch isn’t being released in many Western countries. They feel it’s impossible to support the company when they can’t even buy the game in their own language.

This criticism highlights a larger conversation about keeping older video games accessible, as digital stores are frequently closing down. Level-5 isn’t the only game company facing this issue this year; others have also been in the news recently.

In March, Nintendo of America sued the U.S. government, asking for money back on tariffs paid due to policies put in place during the Trump administration. Separately, one game developer recently made headlines by prohibiting anyone from streaming their new game, preventing fans from sharing gameplay videos online.

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2026-05-14 18:49