AI-generated
The speedrunning community spent the past week celebrating another successful Summer Games Done Quick while also grappling with one of the biggest controversies in recent GDQ history.
SGDQ 2026 Raises Over $2.4 Million for Doctors Without Borders
Summer Games Done Quick 2026 wrapped up after another incredible week of speedruns, entertainment, and generosity. By the end of the marathon, the event had raised more than $2.4 million for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), pushing Games Done Quick’s lifetime fundraising total beyond $62 million across all AGDQ and SGDQ events.
The final run, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Any% (Restricted), capped off an emotional finale before the community unlocked the event’s final donation incentive. Along the way, viewers celebrated major fundraising milestones at both $1.5 million and $2 million, demonstrating once again the remarkable support behind charity speedrunning.
With SGDQ now in the books, the community is already looking ahead to Gamescom GDQ later this summer and Awesome Games Done Quick 2027 in Atlanta.
GDQ Reverses Course on SNK Partnership
Just hours after SGDQ concluded, Games Done Quick announced a partnership with SNK, sparking immediate criticism from community members.
Many pointed to SNK’s ownership by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and questioned the timing, particularly following an event featuring a large number of LGBTQ+ runners and volunteers. The discussion quickly spread across social media and Reddit, with some users also criticizing moderation decisions in GDQ’s Twitch chat.
A few days later, GDQ officially cancelled the partnership and issued a public apology, acknowledging community concerns. The reversal became one of the week’s most discussed topics and highlighted the community’s willingness to hold one of speedrunning’s largest organizations accountable.
Community Picks the Best Runs of SGDQ
As always after a GDQ marathon, fans immediately began compiling “must-watch” lists for anyone who missed the event.
Several runs appeared repeatedly in community recommendations:
- Super Mario 64 120 Star TAS, showcasing years of tool-assisted optimization with detailed commentary.
- Resident Evil Requiem, praised for its technical gameplay, creative glitches, and crowd energy.
- Balatro, where the game’s scoring system was pushed to its absolute limits.
- Kingdom Hearts, featuring exceptional commentary and execution.
- Super Mario Maker Troll Race, continuing the tradition of crowd-favorite race events.
- Elden Ring Co-op Race, an experimental multi-view format that many viewers enjoyed despite some production hiccups.
- Dying Light, widely praised as one of the cleanest and best-presented runs of the marathon.
- Super Dram World 3, whose finale delivered huge crowd reactions and an impressive performance from Revolug.
Whether you’re interested in technical showcases, hilarious commentary, or pure entertainment, this year’s VOD list has plenty to offer.
The Return of a GDQ Favorite: Tool-Assisted Speedruns
One pleasant surprise was the return of a Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS) showcase.
The Super Mario 64 120 Star TAS became one of the event’s highlights, with runners and commentators explaining the techniques behind a project reportedly over a decade in the making. For many longtime viewers, it was a welcome reminder of how TAS showcases can blend entertainment with education.
New World Records Continue to Fall
Outside of GDQ, runners continued pushing games to their limits.
Highlights this week included:
- Niftski becoming the first player to achieve a sub-5-minute Super Mario Bros. (PAL) Any% run.
- A new documented world record for Shadow the Hedgehog 326%, an extraordinary category requiring over 166 hours of gameplay spread across 33 days.
These achievements demonstrate both ends of speedrunning—from five-minute optimization to marathon-length endurance challenges.
Content Creators Keep the Community Talking
Discussion wasn’t limited to live events.
A new documentary examining allegations of cheating in Spyro world records generated significant interest, while fans also debated which speedrunning history they most want to see covered by Summoning Salt next. Popular suggestions included Super Paper Mario, Mario Kart Wii ultra shortcuts, and virtually any category from Super Mario Galaxy.
Looking Ahead
If you’re already experiencing the familiar post-GDQ blues, you won’t have to wait long for the next marathon. Zeldathon begins on July 19, while several other community events—including Flame Fatales, Games Done Queer, and Gamescom GDQ—are on the horizon.
As always, speedrunning rarely slows down. One marathon ends, another world record falls, and before long the community is already counting the days until the next event.
Community Question: What was your favorite SGDQ 2026 run? Let us know which speedrun impressed you the most—or which hidden gem deserves more attention.
Source: reddit.com