Awesome Games Done Quick 2023 has just wrapped another awesome year with more money for a great cause. This year, AGDQ raised over $2.6 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, an organization dedicated to the prevention of cancer through early detection and public awareness.
"Thank you to everyone who made this marathon possible, and to all of you for your amazing generosity & support," wrote AGDQ after the final speedrun. "See you all next time at #SGDQ2023 from May 28th to June 4th."
AGDQ offered a special thanks to Games Done Quick founder Mike Uyama, who announced earlier this month that he would step down after 13 years. Uyama began Games Done Quick from his parent's basement and said he was "proud" to watch the company grow from a "small volunteer effort" to a "thriving organization." He'll be succeeded by director of operations Matt Merkle for the next event.
Awsesome Games Done Quick is an annual event where speedrunners from around the world attempt to beat their best times to encourage donations to a worthy cause. This year's final run was Super Mario 3 by mitchflowerpower with a final time of three minutes and 47 seconds--far slower than his world record run of one minute and nine seconds, but a respectable effort and a wonderful sendoff for Uyama and AGDQ 2023.
There was at least one record set at AGDQ. Jhay broke his own record for Super Mario Galaxy 2 by more than four seconds with a final time of 54 minutes and 51.33 seconds in a four-way race. "I have peaked in life," wrote Jhay following the record-setting run. "Galaxy forever."
The next event will be Summer Games Done Quick, which will take place starting May 28. Expect details for the summer event will be released in the coming weeks.