The future of physical games and whether boutique publishers will ever build a dedicated console is back in the spotlight after comments from Limited Run Games co-founder Josh Fairhurst.
Limited Run, founded in 2015, established itself by producing limited-run physical editions of digital-first and indie titles across platforms including Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, helping sustain a market for cartridges and discs even as the broader industry embraces digital distribution.
Fairhurst told reporters he once entertained the idea of creating a physically focused console while at Limited Run, but said he did not make significant progress on that plan during his tenure.
He explained that corporate realities and ownership structures around the company make hardware development unlikely from Limited Run itself.
Fairhurst emphasized instead that his personal commitment to physical media remains strong; he described physical ownership as a vital element in preserving games’ history and said he is working on projects that will “fully embrace physicality,” though he cautioned that announcements are not imminent.
Industry context supports why the conversation matters.
Console manufacturers have offered disc-less hardware options for several years: Sony released the PS5 Digital Edition alongside the standard PS5 in 2020, and Microsoft launched the disc-less Xbox Series S the same year.
Nintendo’s hybrid Switch platform (released in 2017) continues to use proprietary game cards and maintain a robust physical catalogue, and Nintendo’s eShop remains a primary digital storefront for first- and third-party releases.
Meanwhile, boutique publishers such as Limited Run and Retro-Bit continue to produce new cartridges and boxed editions for modern and retro systems, including special releases for legacy platforms like the Sega Genesis and SNES.
Fairhurst’s remarks underline a persistent industry tension: major platform holders increasingly favor digital storefronts and services, while collectors, preservationists, and niche publishers push to keep physical ownership alive.
Limited Run’s motto and public positioning — often summarized as “forever physical” — reflects that mission.
Whether that effort ultimately extends to bespoke hardware or remains focused on curated physical products, it is clear there is an active community and market sustaining physical releases across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and legacy formats.
For developers, publishers and preservationists, the conversation is more than nostalgia: it concerns archival access, collector markets, and the economics of small-run physical production.
Fairhurst’s comments are the latest reminder that, even as digital distribution grows, physical media retains advocates working to secure its place in gaming’s future.
Limited Run, founded in 2015, established itself by producing limited-run physical editions of digital-first and indie titles across platforms including Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, helping sustain a market for cartridges and discs even as the broader industry embraces digital distribution.
Fairhurst told reporters he once entertained the idea of creating a physically focused console while at Limited Run, but said he did not make significant progress on that plan during his tenure.
He explained that corporate realities and ownership structures around the company make hardware development unlikely from Limited Run itself.
Fairhurst emphasized instead that his personal commitment to physical media remains strong; he described physical ownership as a vital element in preserving games’ history and said he is working on projects that will “fully embrace physicality,” though he cautioned that announcements are not imminent.
Industry context supports why the conversation matters.
Console manufacturers have offered disc-less hardware options for several years: Sony released the PS5 Digital Edition alongside the standard PS5 in 2020, and Microsoft launched the disc-less Xbox Series S the same year.
Nintendo’s hybrid Switch platform (released in 2017) continues to use proprietary game cards and maintain a robust physical catalogue, and Nintendo’s eShop remains a primary digital storefront for first- and third-party releases.
Meanwhile, boutique publishers such as Limited Run and Retro-Bit continue to produce new cartridges and boxed editions for modern and retro systems, including special releases for legacy platforms like the Sega Genesis and SNES.
Fairhurst’s remarks underline a persistent industry tension: major platform holders increasingly favor digital storefronts and services, while collectors, preservationists, and niche publishers push to keep physical ownership alive.
Limited Run’s motto and public positioning — often summarized as “forever physical” — reflects that mission.
Whether that effort ultimately extends to bespoke hardware or remains focused on curated physical products, it is clear there is an active community and market sustaining physical releases across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and legacy formats.
For developers, publishers and preservationists, the conversation is more than nostalgia: it concerns archival access, collector markets, and the economics of small-run physical production.
Fairhurst’s comments are the latest reminder that, even as digital distribution grows, physical media retains advocates working to secure its place in gaming’s future.
