Limited Run Games admits timelines “too aggressive” amid delays

Limited Run Games recently sent out numerous emails to its customers over the last week, informing them that their pre-orders and purchases are unfortunately running late. The company acknowledged its negligence and stated that the original delivery dates were “too aggressive” and “overly optimistic.” Limited Run Games, known for its physical retro releases, has been trying to win back the trust of the retro community after multiple hiccups.

Earlier in January, Limited Run Games co-founder Josh Fairhurst announced his exit from his leadership position at the company after a solid decade. The new leadership at the company promised what it described as a “renewed fan-first focus,” with better quality control, streamlined order updates, and shipping dates customers could actually rely on.

Yet ongoing delays have left a bitter taste in customers’ mouths. The company has been criticized for numerous setbacks, such as shipping 3DO games on burned CD-R discs instead of pressed discs; NES cartridges with incorrect voltages that damaged retro consoles; and a Sonic X Shadow Generations Collector’s Edition featuring statues with broken noses and nystagmic eyes.

After every setback, the company issued an apology and promised to make amends and improve. However, this time, Limited Run Games hasn’t clearly addressed which orders have been affected. Customers have merely been told to check their accounts and purchase histories. 

The official email reads as follows (via r/limitedrun):

“As we continue this transition of growth and transparency here at LRG, our new leadership has taken a hard look at our in-progress releases, and it’s clear: We’ve set some delivery dates that were too aggressive. We were overly optimistic, and we’ve disappointed you in the form of delays and uncertainty. We’re resetting that standard. Going forward, the date is the date, and it’s a date you should be able to believe in when placing an order with us.”

This has left many customers confused and wondering if everything in production and in pre-order status could be pushed back to the tail end of 2026. Still, it seems the retro gaming community isn’t convinced by Limited Run Games’ emails, pointing back to prior unfulfilled promises. Only time will tell if LRG’s latest reset sticks or if it becomes another chapter in the same story.