diff --git a/scripts/generate_channel.py b/scripts/generate_channel.py
index 70f102f6f..99a47352b 100644
--- a/scripts/generate_channel.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_channel.py
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
 import json
 import sys
 import os
-from typing import TypedDict, Literal, NotRequired
+from typing import Generator, Literal, NotRequired, TypedDict
 
-from ._utils import pick, pl, write_json
+from ._utils import flatten, pick, pl, write_json, parse_version
 
 type RepositoryUrl = str
 type Platform = Literal["*", "windows", "osx", "linux"]
@@ -249,6 +249,9 @@ def normalize_package(pkg) -> Package | None:
             "url": rel["url"],
             "date": format_utc_datetime(rel["date"]),
         })
+
+    releases = remove_older_releases(releases)
+
     if not releases:
         err(f"Drop package {name} with no valid releases")
         return None
@@ -292,6 +295,37 @@ def normalize_package(pkg) -> Package | None:
     return out
 
 
+def remove_older_releases(releases: list[Release]) -> list[Release]:
+    grouped: dict[tuple[str, tuple[Platform, ...]], list[Release]] = defaultdict(list)
+    for rel in releases:
+        grouped[(rel["sublime_text"], tuple(rel["platforms"]))].append(rel)
+
+    compressed: list[Release] = list(flatten(
+        compress_release_group(rels)
+        for rels in grouped.values()
+    ))
+    compressed.sort(
+        key=lambda rel: (
+            rel.get("sublime_text"),
+            rel.get("platforms"),
+            rel.get("date")
+        )
+    )
+    return compressed
+
+
+def compress_release_group(releases: list[Release]) -> Generator[Release]:
+    prerelease_found = False
+    for rel in sorted(releases, key=lambda rel: rel["date"], reverse=True):
+        version = parse_version(rel["version"])
+        if not version or version.is_final:
+            yield rel
+            break
+        if version.is_prerelease and not prerelease_found:
+            prerelease_found = True
+            yield rel
+
+
 def normalize_library(lib) -> Library | None:
     name = lib.get("name")
     if not name:
diff --git a/tests/generate_channel/test_generate_channel.py b/tests/generate_channel/test_generate_channel.py
index 669c6961c..b54fe56e7 100644
--- a/tests/generate_channel/test_generate_channel.py
+++ b/tests/generate_channel/test_generate_channel.py
@@ -171,6 +171,111 @@ def test_normalize_package_formats_fields_and_defaults():
     }
 
 
+def test_normalize_package_compresses_versions_by_build_and_platform():
+    pkg = {
+        "name": "Monokai Pro",
+        "author": ["Monokai"],
+        "last_modified": "2026-01-11T10:00:00Z",
+        "source": "https://repo.example",
+        "releases": [
+            {
+                "sublime_text": ">=3000",
+                "platforms": ["*"],
+                "version": "2.0.3",
+                "url": "https://repo.example/2.0.3.zip",
+                "date": "2024-12-04T14:00:00Z",
+            },
+            {
+                "sublime_text": ">=3000",
+                "platforms": ["*"],
+                "version": "2.0.6",
+                "url": "https://repo.example/2.0.6.zip",
+                "date": "2025-01-15T13:30:00Z",
+            },
+            {
+                "sublime_text": ">=4050",
+                "platforms": ["*"],
+                "version": "2.1.5",
+                "url": "https://repo.example/2.1.5.zip",
+                "date": "2025-12-17T10:00:00Z",
+            },
+            {
+                "sublime_text": ">=4050",
+                "platforms": ["*"],
+                "version": "2.1.6",
+                "url": "https://repo.example/2.1.6.zip",
+                "date": "2026-01-07T10:00:00Z",
+            },
+            {
+                "sublime_text": ">=4050",
+                "platforms": ["*"],
+                "version": "2.2.0-rc1",
+                "url": "https://repo.example/2.2.0-rc1.zip",
+                "date": "2026-01-10T10:00:00Z",
+            },
+        ],
+    }
+
+    normalized = normalize_package(pkg)
+
+    versions = sorted(rel["version"] for rel in normalized["releases"])
+    assert versions == ["2.0.6", "2.1.6", "2.2.0-rc1"]
+
+
+def test_normalize_package_drops_prerelease_older_than_final():
+    pkg = {
+        "name": "Example",
+        "author": ["Ada"],
+        "last_modified": "2024-03-22T12:13:14Z",
+        "source": "https://repo.example",
+        "releases": [
+            {
+                "sublime_text": ">=4100",
+                "platforms": ["*"],
+                "version": "1.0.0-rc1",
+                "url": "https://repo.example/1.0.0-rc1.zip",
+                "date": "2024-03-20T12:13:14Z",
+            },
+            {
+                "sublime_text": ">=4100",
+                "platforms": ["*"],
+                "version": "1.0.0",
+                "url": "https://repo.example/1.0.0.zip",
+                "date": "2024-03-21T12:13:14Z",
+            },
+        ],
+    }
+
+    normalized = normalize_package(pkg)
+
+    versions = [rel["version"] for rel in normalized["releases"]]
+    assert versions == ["1.0.0"]
+
+
+def test_normalize_package_handles_non_semver_release():
+    pkg = {
+        "name": "Repeat Macro",
+        "author": ["Siva"],
+        "last_modified": "2018-05-27T17:41:14Z",
+        "source": "https://repo.example",
+        "releases": [
+            {
+                "sublime_text": "*",
+                "platforms": ["*"],
+                "version": "2018.05.27.17.41.14",
+                "url": "https://repo.example/repeat-macro.zip",
+                "date": "2018-05-27 17:41:14",
+            }
+        ],
+    }
+
+    normalized = normalize_package(pkg)
+
+    assert [rel["version"] for rel in normalized["releases"]] == [
+        "2018.05.27.17.41.14"
+    ]
+
+
 def test_normalize_library_formats_release_dates_and_pick_fields():
     lib = {
         "name": "Lib",