Limited Run Games, the publisher known for preserving retro and digital-only games on physical media, is undergoing significant internal restructuring as it attempts to salvage its reputation after years of quality control failures that have frustrated collectors and customers worldwide.
Co-founder Josh Fairhurst stepped down as CEO in September 2025 and will work as President until March 2026, after which he will scale back to pursue other ventures. Fairhurst said he made the decision after being presented with opportunities to help bring dream games to life, noting that he would regret not seizing the moment.
The leadership transition arrives amid mounting criticism. GameSpot reports that the company has announced sweeping changes aimed at strengthening communication channels and implementing stricter oversight of products before release. Chief Operating Officer Nic Ashford and Chief Financial Officer Brendan Madigan will handle business operations, while VP of Marketing and Fan Experiences Chris Pirrotta will lead a "fan-first focus" for the company.
The operational problems are concrete and documented. Limited Run Games has faced heavy criticism for several releases in recent years. Complaints of absurdly long wait times, poor item quality, and bad customer service are constant posts on the Limited Run Games subreddit, and consumers have been sold games burned to CD-Rs instead of being professionally pressed. In 2024, the company faced backlash for selling the 3DO version of D on CD-R discs, which are burned instead of pressed, leading to playback issues on 3DO consoles.
Other failures have been more alarming. Games like the NES cartridges for Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland had voltage regulation issues that could damage consoles if played for extended periods. One customer who ordered Scott Pilgrim vs. The World waited nearly two years and received a cartridge that required an update and a low-quality paper manual with cut-off text. Even premium collector's editions have disappointed; the Dreamcast statue included with the Sonic x Shadow Generations Collector's Edition has been criticised for its quality, with new shipments paused while the manufacturer figures things out.
As part of its announced reset, Limited Run Games says it plans to provide clearer updates, more consistent visibility, and higher standard of communication from announcement through delivery. According to Chief Operating Officer Nic Ashford, this means tightening production oversight and quality control standards, implementing faster escalation when something is not right, and communicating more proactively when timelines shift.
The company acknowledges that some releases will be delayed as part of the overhaul. The critical question remains whether new leadership can rebuild trust with collectors who have documented systemic issues across multiple product lines. The departure paves the way for a new leadership era at one of the gaming industry's most distinctive publishers. Whether that era actually delivers on quality promises remains to be seen.