Josh Fairhurst, one of the co-founders of Limited Run Games, has confirmed that he’ll be stepping away from the company he helped build, marking the end of a decade-long chapter in physical game publishing.

Fairhurst revealed that the transition has already been quietly underway. He stepped down from the CEO role back in September and is currently serving as President, a position he’ll hold until March 2026. After that, he plans to scale back his involvement significantly as he turns his attention toward new projects and opportunities outside of Limited Run.

According to Fairhurst, the decision didn’t come lightly. Limited Run Games has been a central part of his life since its founding in 2015 alongside Douglas Bogart. What began as a niche operation focused on producing physical editions of digital-only games grew into a major player in the space, working with publishers and developers such as Sega, Atari, Konami, Treasure, and Arc System Works. The company was ultimately acquired by Embracer Group in 2022 through its Freemode division.

In a statement shared on social media, Fairhurst explained that his choice to move on was driven by a growing number of creative opportunities that felt too significant to ignore. He said that while he deeply loves the work Limited Run does and the people behind it he believes the company could benefit from fresh leadership and new ideas as it enters its next phase.

Limited Run Games has played a major role in keeping physical media relevant in an era dominated by digital storefronts, even making headlines for projects like releasing a brand-new SNES-compatible version of DOOM. That said, the company hasn’t been without controversy, facing criticism over production delays, quality control issues, and faulty cartridges in recent years.

Fairhurst has previously acknowledged those shortcomings, stating that criticism is necessary for growth and improvement. He’s emphasized that mistakes were made, but also that the company has worked to learn from them and do better moving forward.

Reflecting on his time at Limited Run, Fairhurst described the experience as a “wild ride” he never took for granted. While his day-to-day involvement may be winding down, he says he intends to continue supporting the company as a fan, customer, and partner. With a strong slate of releases planned for the future, Fairhurst believes Limited Run Games is well positioned to keep pushing forward even without him at the helm.

As he put it, sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones that allow you to fully move on to the next chapter.