Welcome back to your weekly roundup of everything speedrunning! This week had a little bit of everything: record-breaking runs, hot community debates, and even a courtroom decision. Let’s dive into the highlights.

Karl Jobst Loses Lawsuit Against Billy Mitchell

The most talked-about event this week wasn’t a WR—it was the result of the long-running legal battle between YouTuber/speedrun journalist Karl Jobst and infamous Donkey Kong player Billy Mitchell. The court ruled in favor of Mitchell, marking a major moment in one of the speedrunning scene’s most public rivalries.

The thread lit up with over 960 comments, debating the impact on journalism, Mitchell’s legacy, and what it means for content creators covering controversy in gaming.
Watch Karl’s video breakdown here.

New Zelda: BotW Any% WR – Sub 23 Minutes!

The legendary 23-minute barrier in Zelda: Breath of the Wild Any% has been shattered! Player5 clocked in at 22:58, making history in one of the most optimized and competitive categories in modern speedrunning.

“First time German” (Tungerman) brought the hype, and the comments agree—this is a run you have to watch.
Watch the run here.

SM64 Input Display Controversy Reignites

A subtle but significant SM64 drama resurfaced this week. Ikori’s WR attempt in 120 Stars wasn’t validated, possibly due to an “input display” tool showing exact joystick angles—raising questions about whether it skirts too close to tool-assisted territory.

Community members are debating what tech is acceptable on stream and whether off-camera tool use can ever be ruled out. Cheese even made a video… then deleted it.

Introducing SaltySplits: Open Source Speedrun Validator

A new tool called SaltySplits aims to help runners validate and analyze their runs using open source tools. Created by qtieb, this could be a big step toward standardized, transparent validation—especially for smaller communities.

The project is still new, but the post stirred early excitement from tech-savvy runners.

What’s the Most Prestigious WR?

TolisKoutro asked the community a simple but deep question: What’s the most prestigious world record? From SM64 to Celeste, Minecraft to GoldenEye, opinions vary wildly, and the debate is as lively as ever.

TL;DR: There’s no right answer—but everyone has a strong one.

Quick Hits

• SMB Any% TAS Tie by Niftski: Another insane 8-3 FPG tie—TAS-level precision in a legendary game.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe WR shattered after 1,074 days: GBA Cheese Land 200cc record finally broken by Alberto!
• New PB in RDR2 “Die Fast” Category: A 13-second run that took 5 hours to perfect. We love commitment to memes.
• TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Arcade Any% WR (Raph – 54:31): 4n6 snags a new record in this fast-paced beat ’em up.
• AFK Game WR?: Yep. ScottishSwitchblade took home the gold in a fully AFK category. Who says you need inputs?

New & Niche Games Getting Love

Several posts this week spotlighted lesser-known games with little to no speedrunning presence:

• Look Outside: A fresh RPGMaker game with a growing Discord (and potential!).
• A list of games with no Speedrun.com page yet, waiting for pioneers.
• Spongebob Collapse! and Floatiers saw exciting new runs from dedicated newcomers.

If you’re a routing enthusiast or just want to be the first to break new ground, this is your time.

Community Corner

• “How do you learn a speedrun?” A fascinating survey thread explores how people approach learning new games. Watching WRs, studying notes, trial and error—it’s all in there.
• “What categories allow mistakes?” Great insights into leniency rules in various games (like Papers, Please and Doom).
• Where is Falcon? A Banjo-Tooie WR holder was banned, but no details were shared publicly. The mystery remains unsolved.

That’s it for this week! Whether you’re breaking records, dissecting input tech, or just grinding that one frame-perfect trick, keep running fast and staying curious.

See you next week!

— PacePals.gg

Source: reddit.com

Welcome to this week’s speedrun recap, where we dive into the latest world records, glitch discoveries, and personal bests from the r/speedrun community. Whether you’re a competitive runner, a casual fan, or just love the thrill of gaming at high speeds, there’s plenty to get excited about!

Records Are Meant to Be Broken!

This week saw some huge world records, with long-standing times being crushed across multiple games:

• “I Wanna Be The Boshy” WR Falls After 9 Years! – AnsoWizard set a blistering 29:46 time, finally dethroning BBF’s legendary run. This marks the end of an era for one of the toughest platformers in speedrunning history.
• Blindfolded Madness in Super Mario 64 – Bubzia pulled off an incredible 1:16:41 in the 70-star category, achieving a new WR in blindfolded SM64.
• Hollow Knight Any% No Major Glitches WR – R1chterScale set a new time of 30:53, pushing the limits of precision and movement in this punishing metroidvania.
• Classic Fighting Games Get New Records – Mortal Kombat Trilogy (Sektor) clocked in at 6:34, while Mortal Kombat II (Scorpion) got a WR with 7:46. Old-school fighters continue to see optimization even decades later!
• Sonic Origins: Knuckles’ Chemical Plant WR – CheesybossSpeedruns posted a 16.95s time in one of Sonic’s most iconic levels.
• The Room Three – 100% WR – Real_dubblebrick completed the puzzle adventure in 1:37:36, claiming the top spot.

Glitches, Tricks, and Nostalgia

Several players this week celebrated their first-time performing legendary glitches:

• Super Mario Bros. 3 Wrong Warp Success – GroceryFood101 shared their reaction to finally pulling off the wrong warp trick in SMB3.
• Ganondoor Wrong-Warp in Ocarina of Time – Kylenbd reminisced about their first time executing this classic glitch, bringing back memories of early Ocarina speedrunning.
• Super Mario Bros. Timer Optimization Discussion – User hamtheman2 sparked debate by questioning how to save time in SMB, leading to interesting discussions on frame-perfect inputs and game mechanics.

First-Time Runners and Personal Bests

Every world record starts somewhere, and we love seeing new runners entering the scene:

• First Speedrun Ever! – GPUfollowr77 shared their excitement about completing their first official speedrun. Welcome to the grind!
• Dark Souls Sub-1 Hour Glitchless PB – Crawdadio finally broke the one-hour barrier in Dark Souls with a 59:56 run. A major milestone!
• Super Smash Bros. 64 Donkey Kong “Break the Targets” PB – Educational-Peanut69 hit an impressive 9.17s time.
• Regular Show: Fist Punch All Levels PB – Saimon-_- improved their best time, showing off some cartoon-fighting skills.

The History of Speedrunning Continues

Finally, a discussion emerged this week about the world’s oldest untied world record. It’s fascinating to think about which times have stood for years, untouched by modern runners and new strategies. If you know of an ancient, unbeaten WR, drop it in the comments!

Meanwhile, Bismuth wrapped up Part 3 of his DK64 101% WR History series, diving deep into one of speedrunning’s most complex and grueling categories.

Final Thoughts

This week was packed with huge achievements, nostalgic moments, and speedrunning history in the making. Whether you’re grinding for a WR, learning a new trick, or just watching in awe, the speedrunning community continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

What was your favorite speedrunning moment this week? Let us know in the comments!

Until next time, keep running fast!

Source: reddit.com

Welcome to this week’s speedrunning highlights! From major decompilation milestones to record-breaking runs, here’s what the speedrunning community has been up to over the past week.

Twilight Princess is 50% Decompiled!

One of the biggest announcements this week was the progress on the decompilation of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. According to YunataSavior, 50% of the game’s code has now been decompiled, bringing us closer to potential breakthroughs in routing, glitch discoveries, and modding. This milestone could significantly impact the speedrunning scene for this classic title.

FrostFatales 2025 Raises Big Money!

The all-women speedrunning marathon FrostFatales 2025 wrapped up successfully, raising an impressive amount for charity. While the final total hasn’t been publicly confirmed in the subreddit post, the event continues to be a major highlight in the community, supporting great causes while showcasing incredible speedrunning talent.

SGDQ 2025: A Well-Organized Comeback

Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ) 2025 is already shaping up to be a well-organized event. Last year, concerns were raised about a lack of updates leading up to the event. However, this year, things are looking much better with hotel information and a clear schedule timeline released four months in advance. Kudos to the GDQ staff for making improvements and keeping the community informed!

Split Fiction Challenge Winners Get Exclusive Access

Two elite speedrunners who mastered the hardest Split Fiction challenge have earned an exciting reward—an early look at Hazelight’s next game. This kind of recognition showcases the dedication and skill required to conquer the most difficult speedrunning challenges.

Deep Dive Into Glitches and Bugs

Glitch enthusiasts rejoice! A discussion thread by HumdrumSparrow sparked interest in finding in-depth content that explores game-breaking mechanics. While many videos focus on humorous bugs, there’s a demand for deeper technical breakdowns. If you have recommendations, be sure to contribute to the discussion!

World Record Round-Up

Several world records were set this week, proving that speedrunners continue to push the limits:

• Super Mario 64 (Blindfolded) – A speedrunner beat their own blindfolded Super Mario 64 world record and announced their retirement from the category.
• Pringles Pony Express – gerarge crushed the All Outposts category with a new WR of 9.640.
• Wheel of Fortune (Classic, Easy, Philadelphia) – ScottishSwitchblade achieved a 9:42 WR and later set another WR for ALL STAGES, improving the previous record by a staggering 17 minutes.
• Might & Magic VII – RisingHuman completed the All Awards No Major Glitches category in 2:06:58, setting a new WR.
• Mortal Kombat Trilogy (PC) – Sektor – Dark_Tenka set a new WR with a time of 6:54.383.

Upcoming & Ongoing Speedrun Events

• Gamers Against Cancer 2025 – A charity marathon supporting Stand Up 2 Cancer is currently live. Check it out on Twitch!
• Sum of Besties: Besties’ Back – This EU-based marathon is running now, featuring runs from Mirror’s Edge, Quantum of Solace, Sly, Hitman, Deus Ex, and Spyro. View the schedule here.

Community Discussion: Who Are You Watching?

A thread encouraged users to share which speedrunners and events they’re tuning into. If you’ve found a new favorite streamer or YouTube channel, this is the perfect place to spread the word!

That’s it for this week’s speedrunning highlights! Keep grinding those PBs, discovering new glitches, and pushing the limits of gaming. See you next week!

Source: reddit.com

Welcome back to another week of speedrunning highlights! From world records to incredible personal bests and deep dives into speedrunning tactics, this week was packed with excitement. Let’s break it down.

World Records & Personal Bests

• Super Mario 64 (0-Star): Suigi continues to push the limits of SM64, setting a new 0-star world record at 6:15.2! This category remains one of the most optimized, and any improvement is a huge deal. (Source: twitch.tv)
• Super Mario 64 (70-Star): Armada, the Super Smash Bros. Melee legend, is making waves in speedrunning too! He set a massive PB of 47:21, placing him 11th on the leaderboard. (Source: youtube.com)
• Blindfolded SM64 (70-Star): Bubzia once again proves that anything is possible, securing a new WR with an insane 1:20:12 run—completely blindfolded! (Source: youtu.be)
• Watch Dogs (Any%): A long-standing record falls! Sayrex becomes the new WR holder for the first time in 10 years with a time of 2:57:39. (Source: youtube.com)
• Skyrim Bearcart%: This unique category extension sees its first-ever sub-50 run, completed in 49:59. Months of grinding finally paid off! (Source: youtu.be)
• Mario Kart 8 (SNES Donut Plains 3): Roflcopter reclaims the WR title, setting a time of 1:13.313, edging out the previous time by just 0.042 seconds! (Source: youtube.com)
• Bloons Tower Defense 6 (#Ouch CHIMPS): The new WR stands at 16:08, another great achievement in the world of strategy speedrunning. (Source: youtu.be)
• Returnal (Fresh File, Glitched): A new record of 27:40.6 was set in this grueling category. (Source: youtu.be)
• Baldur’s Gate 3 (Explorer Mode, No Major Glitches): The fastest run to date clocks in at 31:16! (Source: youtube.com)
• Elden Ring (Any% Unrestricted): A groundbreaking new route has emerged, leading to a WR of 3:52! (Source: twitch.tv)

Community & Discussion

• Most Tied World Record? The mission The Duel in Perfect Dark (Agent difficulty) has been completed in 3 seconds by 495 different players, making it one of the most heavily tied world records. Are there any records with more ties? (Source: reddit.com)
• Speedrunning & Dynamic Difficulty: Games like Resident Evil 4 allow runners to manipulate difficulty to their advantage—sometimes intentionally missing shots or taking damage to make later sections easier. Are there other games where this strategy is common? (Source: reddit.com)
• What’s Important When Starting? A great discussion this week on how to get into speedrunning. With so many categories and methods, beginners can feel overwhelmed. Key takeaways: focus on a game you love, learn the fundamentals, and don’t worry about being perfect right away. (Source: reddit.com)

Video Features & TAS Highlights

• How Speedrunners Broke My Rage Game (Get to Work): A fascinating look at how players found unexpected ways to exploit a game’s mechanics. (Source: youtube.com)
• Super Mario Bros. 3 TAS Explained: A run completed in just five microseconds? This deep dive into tool-assisted speedrunning (TAS) is a must-watch! (Source: youtube.com)
• Exposing Trackmania’s Biggest Con-Man: A wild story about deception in the Trackmania community. (Source: youtube.com)
• The Biggest Glitch in Final Fantasy VII (PSX): An in-depth breakdown of one of the most game-changing glitches in FFVII. (Source: youtube.com)
• Dark Souls Beginner’s Guide (Glitchless Any%): A new video helps newcomers understand the route and techniques for glitchless Dark Souls runs. (Source: youtube.com)
• How to Ruin an Hour-Long Marathon (SMB1): A humorous yet painful story of how a single mistake can end a great run. (Source: v.redd.it)
• Portal 2 Co-Op TAS – Perfect Execution: This newly released TAS showcases an absolutely flawless Portal 2 co-op run with precision that’s impossible for humans. (Source: youtube.com)

Looking Ahead

With so many incredible records and discussions, speedrunning remains as exciting as ever. Who will claim the next major WR? What new strategies will emerge? Stay tuned for next week’s recap!

Until next time, keep running fast and breaking records!

Source: reddit.com

Welcome to this week’s edition of Speedrunning Weekly, where we round up the biggest moments, records, and discussions from the past week in the speedrunning community!

Event Highlights

SpeeDons 2025 Sets a New Fundraising Record

One of the biggest speedrunning marathons, SpeeDons 2025, wrapped up last Sunday with an incredible achievement—raising a record-breaking €2,231,146 for Médecins Du Monde! The event showcased some of the most talented runners in the community and proved, once again, that speedrunning is not only about breaking records but also about making a real-world impact.

Speed4TLC Marathon Supports Transgender Law Center

Another notable event this week was Speed4TLC, a three-day speedrunning marathon dedicated to raising funds for the Transgender Law Center. The event brought together a variety of speedrunners for an amazing cause. If you missed it, check out their VODs and consider supporting the movement!

World Records of the Week

It’s been a fantastic week for records, with multiple speedrunners pushing the limits of their respective games:

• Super Mario 64 – 1-Star WR: Suigi achieved an incredible 6:56.083 on his first day returning to the category. Watch the run here.
• Super Metroid – Low% Ice WR: Oatsngoats shattered expectations with a 48:12 time, setting a new benchmark in this challenging category.
• Chrono Cross Any% WR (PSX): SuperHandi clocked in at 6:35:47, overcoming tons of RNG and showcasing some seriously cool strategies.
• Portal Any% WR: Sidious completed the game in 5:39.960, marking the biggest WR improvement in three years and the first-ever sub-5:40 time!
• Final Fantasy VII Any% (PSX) WR: Zheal delivered a stunning 5:12:53 run, further optimizing one of the most popular RPG speedruns.
• THPS3 Any% WR: A lightning-fast 3:12 time was set, proving that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater speedruns remain an art form of their own.
• Mortal Kombat Trilogy (PC) WR: Dark_Tenka sped through the game as Ermac in 7:16, setting a new best time.
• Pac-Man Arrangement WR: Joester98 achieved a 9:19.434, adding yet another milestone in the classic arcade genre.
• SEGA Rally 2 WR: A 25-year-old record was finally broken by kurobara_yuk, an impressive feat in a long-standing category.

Discussions & New Tech

Speedrunners as Unofficial Vulnerability Researchers

A fascinating discussion emerged this week about how speedrunners often function as vulnerability researchers without even realizing it. By exploiting unintended mechanics, glitches, and bugs, runners push games to their limits, mirroring the work of cybersecurity experts in discovering vulnerabilities in software.

Games with the Biggest Speedrun vs. Casual Time Gap

One of the week’s most engaging threads asked: What game has the largest time difference between a normal playthrough and a speedrun? While Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was a key example (from 70 hours down to 6), the community explored even more extreme cases, with some RPGs and open-world games having reductions of over 90% in playtime.

Possible New Tech Found in Avowed?

There’s some excitement brewing in the Avowed speedrunning community, as a potential new piece of tech has been discovered. It remains to be seen how it will impact future runs, but keep an eye out for developments!

New Tools for Managing Twitch Runs on Speedrun.com

Speedrun.com has introduced new tools to help runners manage Twitch runs more effectively. This update aims to provide better organization and accessibility for live speedrunning content.

Interviews & Video Features

GrandPooBear Talks Kaizo Mario and Speedrunning

In an insightful interview, GrandPooBear shared his thoughts on speedrunning, the evolution of Super Mario Maker, and what the game needs next. If you’re a fan of Kaizo levels or Mario speedrunning, this is a must-read. Full interview here.

How Teams of Speedrunners Broke Zofia

A deep dive into how teams of speedrunners systematically break games and optimize strategies, focusing on Zofia. Check out the video here.

How to Understand Every Speedrun

If you’ve ever been confused by the terminology or techniques in speedrunning, a new video explains how to follow along with any run. A great resource for newcomers and veterans alike!

Final Thoughts

It’s been another action-packed week in speedrunning, with records falling, new discoveries being made, and events making a real-world impact. Whether you’re grinding a new PB or just watching in awe, the speedrunning community continues to inspire.

What was your favorite moment of the week? Let us know in the comments!

See you next week for another edition of Speedrunning Weekly!

Source: reddit.com

Welcome to this week’s speedrunning recap! From record-breaking feats to community-driven initiatives, here are the biggest highlights from the past seven days in the world of speedrunning.

Preserving Speedrunning History Amid Twitch ToS Changes

With Twitch’s recent ToS updates, many speedrunners have been concerned about losing archived runs that were submitted using Twitch highlights. In response, Matse007 and the community have developed the SpeedrunRescueScript, a tool designed to archive speedrun submissions from speedrun.com that use Twitch highlights. This robust and customizable script allows runners to download videos, track at-risk runs, and maintain a historical record of speedrunning achievements. You can check out the tool here.

World Record Breakthroughs

This week saw several impressive world record (WR) achievements across various games:

• Super Mario 64 (70 Star, Blindfolded) – Bubzia set a new WR with a time of 1:22:10, demonstrating an astonishing level of memorization and execution.
• Final Fantasy VII (Any% PSX) – Zheal completed the run in 5:15:55, pushing the limits of optimization in the category.
• Returnal (Any% Glitchless NG+) – A new WR was set for PC speedruns of Returnal.
• Mortal Kombat Trilogy (Sub-Zero) – Dark_Tenka achieved a WR time of 7:52.
• Batman: Arkham Anthology (100%) – ShikenNuggets completed all four Arkham games in an incredible 19:02:10.

Blindfolded Super Mario 64 – A Feat of Unbelievable Skill

Bubzia’s WR run in blindfolded Super Mario 64 (70 Star) left the community in awe. But what’s even more mind-blowing? Bubzia has previously completed a 120-star blindfolded run! Players experimenting with blindfolded gaming shared their frustrations, with one user struggling to complete even the first level of Doom despite knowing the maps by heart. Bubzia continues to redefine what’s possible in speedrunning.

Documenting Speedrunning History: Donkey Kong 64 & Hollow Knight

For those interested in the rich history of speedrunning, two must-watch videos surfaced this week:

• The King of Donkey Kong 64 – 101% World Record History (Part 2) – Bismuth dives deep into the evolution of WRs in DK64.
• World Record History of Hollow Knight (Any% NMG) – A fascinating breakdown of how speedrunners have optimized Hollow Knight over time.

The Art of TAS – Wind Waker’s Barrier Skip

A new Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS) of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker showcases an astonishing No Barrier Skip in just two pauses, breaking expectations of what’s humanly possible. The community remains eager to see if this technique will lead to new real-time speedrunning strategies.

Speedrunning Events: SpeeDons & BSG Plus 2025

• SpeeDons 5: The largest French speedrunning marathon kicks off this week, running non-stop from Thursday to Sunday.
• BSG Plus 2025: The Benelux Speedrunner Gathering is underway in Utrecht, raising money for mental health charity MIND. The event runs until March 1st.

Both events are featuring an array of top-tier speedruns, charity fundraising, and community gatherings!

Perfect Speedruns – Are Some WRs Unbeatable?

A thought-provoking discussion surfaced this week: How many WRs exist that will likely never be broken unless a new strategy is discovered? Community members pointed to legendary runs such as the 5.57s in Dragster and 4:54 in Super Mario Bros., questioning if they represent the absolute limits of human capability.

Upcoming Challenges – Speedrun & Win €800!

For those looking to test their skills competitively, the ChromaGun 2 Demo: Speedrun Challenge Any% has launched, offering prizes up to €800 for the fastest completions. If you’re interested, check out speedrun.pixel-maniacs.com for more details.

Final Thoughts

From major WRs to community initiatives, this week has been packed with excitement in the speedrunning world. If you’re passionate about preserving speedrun history, consider using the SpeedrunRescueScript to archive your runs. And if you’re looking for inspiration, Bubzia’s blindfolded runs and the latest WR histories are must-sees!

Stay fast, stay optimized, and see you next week for more speedrunning highlights!

Source: reddit.com

Welcome to this week’s speedrunning roundup! From record-breaking performances to exciting community projects, there’s a lot to cover. Let’s dive in!

NBA Skills Challenge: CP3 and Wemby Unveil a New Route

In a surprising turn of events, the NBA Skills Challenge has become the latest frontier for speedrunners. Chris Paul (CP3) and Victor Wembanyama (Wemby) debuted a new route that shaved crucial seconds off the previous record. The refined path prioritizes efficiency and optimal movement through the drill’s obstacles. While speedrunning isn’t traditionally associated with basketball, this highlights how the mindset of optimization can be applied to anything!

Super Mario 64 Blindfolded 1-Star WR: 11:24

Bubzia, a well-known blindfolded speedrunner, has done it again! This time, they achieved an 11:24 run in Super Mario 64’s 1-Star category while completely blindfolded. The level of memorization and execution required is staggering, proving once again that the human brain can be just as powerful as any tool-assisted speedrun (TAS) when trained properly.

Twitch Storage Changes Coming in 2025

Big news for speedrun content creators: Twitch announced a 100-hour storage limit for Highlights and Uploads starting April 19, 2025. Any channel exceeding this cap will have their least-viewed videos deleted automatically. This could pose challenges for the speedrunning community, as many old and historic runs may be at risk of being lost. If you have valuable runs stored, consider backing them up to YouTube or another platform!

Zelda: Twilight Princess Decompilation Needs You!

A call for help has gone out from the Zelda: Twilight Princess decompilation project. The team is working on fully breaking down the game’s code, which could lead to major discoveries in the speedrunning scene. Any potential sequence breaks or unintended mechanics found in the game’s internals could drastically shorten the current Any% time of 2 hours and 48 minutes. If you know C++ and have an interest in breaking the game open, now is the perfect time to contribute!

Breath of the Wild Any% WR: 23:01

Player 5 has achieved yet another world record in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, bringing the Any% time down to 23:01. The run showcases masterful execution of movement glitches, combat strategies, and advanced routing. With this milestone reached, many are wondering if a sub-23-minute run is possible.

Elden Ring TAS: 2:26 Any% Run

A new TAS (Tool-Assisted Speedrun) of Elden Ring using zips and other exploits has clocked in at an astonishing 2 minutes and 26 seconds. While TAS runs are optimized beyond human capabilities, they often inspire real-time strategies that can push the boundaries of what’s possible in live speedrunning.

Best Hypermovement Glitches? A Deep Dive

A discussion has emerged about the best hypermovement glitches in gaming history. From Half-Life 2’s Accelerated Backwards Hopping (ABH) to Trackmania’s insane physics exploits, speedrunners have always found ways to push games to their limits. The conversation also highlighted famous glitches like Super Mario 64’s Backwards Long Jump (BLJ) and Doom’s railboosting.

Harvest Moon Speedrunning Marathon is Live

For the ninth consecutive year, the Harvest Moon speedrunning community is hosting its annual marathon! While not as fast-paced as other categories, these runs showcase incredible routing and optimization in farming mechanics. If you’re looking for a relaxing yet engaging speedrun event, this one is worth checking out.

Diablo Speedrun Debunked by Hackers

In a wild turn of events, a group of Diablo hackers helped uncover a fraudulent speedrun claim. After analyzing the footage and game mechanics, they proved that the supposed record was manipulated. This serves as a reminder that speedrunning is built on trust and verification, and the community remains vigilant in preserving the integrity of the leaderboards.

That’s it for this week’s speedrunning highlights! Whether you’re setting records, optimizing routes, or just watching incredible runs, the speedrunning community continues to push the limits of what’s possible in gaming. Until next time, happy running!

Source: reddit.com

Welcome to another weekly roundup of the biggest and most exciting moments from the speedrunning community! From groundbreaking world records to fascinating discussions, here’s what made waves this week.

A Historic First: Sub-2 Minute Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! Fight

The legendary Summoning Salt has done it again! This week, the first-ever sub-2-minute Mike Tyson fight in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! was achieved with a stunning time of 1:59.97. This milestone, breaking the two-minute barrier, cements Summoning Salt’s place in speedrunning history. If you haven’t seen the run yet, it’s a must-watch!

Cheating in Speedrunning: A Master’s Thesis?

A fascinating discussion emerged when a criminal justice student stumbled upon a thesis from Christopher Brewer—written in 2017—about cheating in speedrunning. The discovery sparked conversation about how speedrunning intersects with topics like trust and rule enforcement, making it a unique academic subject. If you’re curious, Brewer’s work is available through Google Scholar for further reading.

TAS Madness: Balatro’s “Maximum Score” Run in Under 6 Minutes

Tool-Assisted Speedruns (TAS) continue to push the limits of what’s possible. This week, Balatro saw a mind-blowing TAS run achieving a “maximum score” in just 5 minutes and 48.23 seconds. If you love the precision and strategy of a well-executed TAS, this run is a technical marvel.

$500 Bounty for The Ascent Any% WR

If you’ve ever wanted to get into speedrunning The Ascent, now is the perfect time! A $500 bounty has been put up for the world record holder of The Ascent Any% by March 31st. The game’s current speedrunning scene is still developing, so this bounty serves as an excellent incentive for new players to get involved and push the meta forward.

Blindfolded Speedrunning Spotlight: Bubzia Documentary

Blindfolded speedrunning continues to amaze audiences, and this week a new documentary by The Great Big Story highlights Bubzia, a blindfolded speedrunner who has pulled off some of the most impressive no-vision feats in gaming. His dedication and skill make for an inspiring story worth checking out.

More Records: Final Fantasy VII, Super Mario World, and More!

World records continue to be broken at an astonishing pace. Some standout runs from this week include:

• Final Fantasy VII – Snowboarding Cool% WR at 1:07.018
• Super Mario World 95 Exit No Cape WR at 1:24:58.833
• Pole Vault WR at 1:49, set by a developer who decided to speedrun their own game!

Anime Speedrun Festival 2025 Announced

Attention anime game fans! The Anime Speedrun Festival 2025 is officially open for submissions until March 23rd. The event, happening in May, showcases speedruns of games based on anime properties like Bleach, One Piece, and Demon Slayer. If you’ve got a favorite anime game, now’s your chance to submit a run and be part of this unique event.

Why Does NTSC and PAL Run Differently?

A discussion post this week revisited an age-old question: Why do NTSC and PAL versions of games run at different speeds? The short answer is that PAL consoles operate at 50Hz, making games run at 5/6th the speed of their NTSC counterparts, which run at 60Hz. This difference has led to fascinating speedrun category splits and debates over which versions of games are optimal for speedrunning.

That’s all for this week’s speedrunning highlights! From record-breaking feats to deep discussions, the community never stops pushing the boundaries of gaming. See you next week for more updates from the speedrunning world!

Source: reddit.com

Welcome back to another edition of the Weekly Speedrun Roundup! This week has been packed with groundbreaking discoveries, insane world records, and important updates for the speedrunning community. Let’s dive in!

Breaking the Donkey Kong Kill Screen

After 44 years, it turns out that the infamous Donkey Kong kill screen isn’t actually the end of the game! A player has discovered a way to bypass the long-assumed limit, opening up new possibilities for high-score attempts and potential speedrun strategies. This revelation has sparked discussions across the community, with players and historians alike re-examining the classic arcade title.

Kosmic also covered this breakthrough in a video, diving into what this means for Donkey Kong’s competitive scene. The discovery has already reignited interest in high-score attempts, and we may see a resurgence in DK runs as people attempt to push the game beyond its perceived limits.

Super Metroid Speedruns Hit New Heights

Super Metroid continues to dominate the speedrunning scene with two incredible new records:

• ShinyZeni achieved an Any% world record of 40:22, pushing the classic run to new levels of optimization.
• Zoast set a new Any% in-game time record of 0:26, proving once again why they are one of the top Super Metroid runners in the world.

These runs showcase the ongoing refinement of movement, routing, and execution in one of speedrunning’s most revered titles.

Splits.io Shutting Down

In a major loss for the community, Splits.io will be shutting down on March 31, 2025. The site has been an essential tool for tracking and analyzing speedrun splits, and its absence will leave a void for many runners. If you haven’t already, make sure to back up your splits and explore alternative tools before the shutdown.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Speedrunning Scene Explodes

Baldur’s Gate 3 speedrunners have been setting records left and right, with multiple new WRs posted this week:

• Honour Mode (No Major Glitches): 37:54.45 by Kinslayer817
• Explorer Mode (No Major Glitches): 35:34.39 by Kinslayer817
• Honour Mode (No Major Glitches) WR Updated: 35:05.79 by Kinslayer817 (just hours before this post!)

The BG3 speedrunning scene is rapidly evolving, and it’s exciting to see new strategies emerge in this deep RPG.

Crash Team Racing 101% World Record: First Sub-2 Hour Run

Hypnoshark has made history by achieving the first-ever sub-2 hour run in Crash Team Racing 101% with a time of 1:59:42. This incredible feat improved the previous record by nearly 50 seconds, setting a new standard for CTR runners.

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers 2 and Mortal Kombat II WRs

• Chip ‘n Dale 2 Any%: 14:15 WR by One-Personality4854
• Mortal Kombat II (Arcade) – Sub-Zero: 7:30 WR by Dark_Tenka
• Mortal Kombat II (Arcade) – Johnny Cage: 7:43 WR by Dark_Tenka

New Time-Saving Glitch in Watch Dogs: Legion

A brand-new glitch called Fabere’s Call has been discovered in Watch Dogs: Legion, saving a full minute in certain categories. This has the potential to shake up the game’s speedrunning scene, and runners are already testing new routes to maximize its efficiency.

Upcoming Events & Community Highlights

• No Glitches Allowed 2025: Submissions are open! If you have a glitchless speedrun you’d like to showcase, now’s your chance to apply.
• Little Nightmares Speedrun Race: A group of runners is organizing a friendly race for Little Nightmares 1 in mid-February. All skill levels are welcome!
• GDQ Couch Commentary Requests: A thread is gaining traction discussing the best GDQ runs featuring JHobz and SpikeVegeta on commentary. If you’re a fan of insightful and entertaining commentary, be sure to check out the recommendations.

Security Alert: Oengus Password Reset Recommended

Oengus, a site used for speedrun event scheduling, has issued a critical security alert. All users are strongly advised to change their passwords and reset 2FA to protect their accounts.

Conclusion

This week has been filled with historic moments and rapid developments across multiple games. Whether it’s breaking decade-old barriers in Donkey Kong, optimizing RPG runs, or discovering new glitches, the speedrunning community continues to push gaming to its absolute limits.

Stay tuned for more updates next week, and as always—happy running!

Source: reddit.com

Welcome to this week’s speedrunning recap, where we cover the biggest news, milestones, and records from the speedrunning community. Let’s dive into the highlights!

Summoning Salt Hits 2 Million Subscribers

A huge congratulations to Summoning Salt, one of the most beloved content creators in the speedrunning scene, for reaching 2 million subscribers on YouTube! His in-depth speedrun history videos have introduced countless people to the world of speedrunning, breaking down world record progressions with exceptional storytelling and analysis. It’s a well-deserved milestone, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Can a Human Ever Truly Tie a TAS?

A discussion this week explored whether any game allows a human to match a Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS) perfectly. While Super Mario Bros. has been inching closer, a true tie remains elusive. Games with deterministic movement and simple mechanics, like early arcade games, might come closest, but the conversation remains open—are there any games where humans can match a TAS from start to finish?

40 Hours of Zelda Speedruns

This past weekend, a massive Zelda marathon took place on Twitch, featuring back-to-back 100% glitchless runs of seven Zelda titles. While not an attempt at world records, the event was a celebration of The Legend of Zelda’s legacy and the endurance required for long-form speedrunning. Hats off to the runner for tackling such an ambitious challenge!

F-ZERO’s 10-Year-Old World Record

An incredible milestone was reached in F-ZERO history as the Mute City 1 world record, set a decade ago, remains unbroken. This achievement highlights how optimized and difficult this particular speedrun has become. Will someone eventually dethrone this record, or is it truly at its peak?

Mario Kart 8 Wii U – Another WR for the GOAT

Alberto, a dominant force in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe time trials, secured yet another world record—this time in the Wii U version on SNES Donut Plains 3 with a time of 1:13.365. This further cements his reputation as one of the greatest time trial players in the game’s history.

Speed4 TLC Marathon for Trans Rights

The upcoming Speed4 TLC marathon (Feb 28 – Mar 2) aims to raise funds for the Transgender Law Center. Runner and volunteer applications are currently open, so if you’re interested in supporting a great cause through speedrunning, now’s your chance to get involved!

Might & Magic VII Any% WR by Xenoras

Xenoras secured their first major world record in Might & Magic VII’s Any% No Major Glitches category, finishing in 39:04. This was achieved through an entirely new riskier route, shaving 29 seconds off the previous best time. Xenoras aims to push for a sub-38-minute run—best of luck!

Balatro Set Seed WR: Sub-1:20 Achieved!

A new milestone was reached in Balatro, with a Set Seed Plasma deck run clocking in at 1:19.699. This record may not last long if a better seed emerges, but for now, it’s a testament to skill, precision, and a bit of luck!

Are Games Designed for Speedrunning Missing the Point?

A thought-provoking discussion emerged about games explicitly made for speedrunning. Some feel these games remove the organic, unintended exploits that define the spirit of speedrunning, making them more akin to challenge runners. Others argue they offer a different but equally rewarding skill set. What do you think?

UKSG Red & Other Weekend Speedrunning Events

UKSG Red was another highlight this past weekend, raising funds for Crisis charity while showcasing incredible speedrunning talent. Meanwhile, the community also tuned into various other streams, including new PBs in Celeste, Super Monkey Ball records, and a Star Wars Battlefront 2 speedrun.

Looking Ahead

As February approaches, speedrunning continues to push boundaries. With upcoming marathons, record grinds, and milestone celebrations, there’s always something exciting happening. Keep an eye on new strategies, record attempts, and major events in the coming weeks!

That’s it for this week’s recap—see you next time!

Source: reddit.com