I Spotted Fake Among Us Merch and Innersloth Called It Out

As a professional gamer, I have spent hundreds of hours in Among Us. The loop is deceptively simple. The social chaos is unforgettable. I still remember my first ejection as an impostor. It stung. But it also made me love the game.

For many players, Among Us stopped being just a game long ago. It became a pop culture icon. That is why I started paying attention to official merchandise. I wanted something real. I bought a crewmate plush from Innersloth's online store. It sits on my desk to this day. Supporting a tiny studio felt right. Innersloth is not a massive company. It has only a handful of employees, yet its game became a global phenomenon. That contrast is easy to forget, especially when fake products flood the market.

Then the fake merchandise appeared. I was scrolling through Twitter, now known as X, when a post caught my eye. Four images. Fake Among Us products everywhere. The official Among Us account had replied, and the message was clear: this was not licensed merchandise. I felt amusement and concern at the same time. Some of the bootlegs were ridiculous. But they were also profiting from a small team's work.

The post featured a backpack that I still cannot unsee. It showed a crewmate dressed as Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants. There were also t-shirts and ceramic figures. Some crewmates even had what looked like LEGO arms. That detail stood out because crewmates are traditionally armless. Seeing them with blocky arms felt wrong. It was as if someone had never actually played Among Us but still wanted to cash in on its name.

Around that same period, the Airship map had just landed, and fans were already speculating about the next map. Excitement was everywhere. I understood why fans wanted to show appreciation. I also understood why bootleggers wanted a piece of the action. But understanding does not make it acceptable.

This was not a new problem. Innersloth had already dealt with fake merchandise before. The team had consulted with legal experts on the matter. That detail matters more than people realize. A small studio does not always have the resources to chase every counterfeit. The fact that they had to consult lawyers shows how serious the issue had become. In June, someone discovered a fake Among Us LEGO set. It was another strange example of knockoff merchandise. Bootleg manufacturers were paying attention to the game's popularity, but they were not paying Innersloth a dime.

Now in 2026, I still watch for fake merch. The problem has not disappeared. If anything, the knockoff market has become more creative. But the lesson from that 2021 post still applies. If you want to support Among Us, buy from Innersloth's official store.

These are the warning signs I use when spotting fake Among Us merchandise:

• 🎒 Strange crossovers, like a Patrick Star crewmate backpack

• 🧱 Blocky arms that look like LEGO pieces

• 🏺 Cheap ceramic figures with odd proportions

• 👕 T-shirts with stolen or low-resolution art

The rise of Among Us into a pop culture icon came with a price. Fake merchandise is that price. I understand why fans want to show love for the game. It is special. But supporting counterfeit products hurts the people who made it possible. Innersloth is small. The developers rely on official merch sales as a major source of revenue, not just game sales. When knockoffs flood the market, that revenue is stolen.

I still think about that weird backpack. It was funny, yes. But it represented something bigger. The developers had created a world that millions of people loved, and strangers were reshaping it without permission. The official Among Us account responded publicly, and I was glad. It told fans that the team was watching.

By 2026, Among Us has evolved. New maps, roles, and updates have kept the community alive. Yet the counterfeit problem persists across the gaming industry. Developers large and small fight the same battle. Whenever I see a suspicious product, I report it or warn other players. It feels like a small way to protect a game that gave me late-night sessions, heated debates, and genuine friendships.

So here is my advice. Before you buy that strange crewmate figurine at a market stall, stop. Check the official Innersloth store first. Look for the warning signs. Support the creators. The game may be simple, but the people behind it deserve better.