Speedrunning
Ongoing coverage on Speedrunning.
Latest coverage
Evening Reading - October 23, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Tape To Tape and Village in the Shade, and mentions of upcoming titles like Gears of War: E-Day and Palworld. Shigeru Miyamoto received Japan's Order of Culture and commented on AI's role in game design. There are also reports of Arkane Studios potentially facing closure and Helen Chiang's departure from Xbox.
Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake adds boss rematches with built-in speedrun tracking, and it all reminds me of one of my…
The upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch will feature a 'Hall of Fallen Foes' where players can rematch bosses and track their times for speedrunning. This new feature draws inspiration from the Nintendo Gallery in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time glitch discovered after nearly 30 years
A new glitch has been discovered in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, nearly 30 years after its original release, which allows players to defeat certain bosses without the required items. This exploit, also functional in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, is expected to significantly impact speedrunning categories, particularly 'No Wrong Warp' and 'Randomizer' runs. The discovery highlights the enduring depth and complexity of the classic game.
One MMO player spent 6,572 hours setting a new world record – which is about 30% of the last 4 waking years
An Old School RuneScape player named Coxie has set a new world record by collecting all 71 in-game pets in 6,572 hours, which is approximately 30% of their waking hours over the past three years. Jagex, the game's developer, verified the achievement, noting that Coxie's time is significantly faster than the second-place record.
After 28 years, new Zelda: Ocarina of Time glitch completely changes 2 major boss fights, and speedrunners are scrambling to figure out the implications
A new glitch discovered in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time allows players to overwrite damage values using bottled items, enabling bosses like Volvagia and Ganondorf to be defeated without their usual required items. This discovery is expected to significantly impact speedrunning categories, particularly 'No Wrong Warp' and randomizer runs, though its utility for casual players is limited. The glitch has also been confirmed to work on the Nintendo Switch Online version of the game.
Evening Reading - October 9, 2026
This week's gaming news roundup includes updates on Dead by Daylight, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Gears of War: E-Day, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. There are also previews for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode and Armatus, alongside news about Bungie's Marathon and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. The article also touches on video game maps, download deals, and speedrunning events.
I got my start writing for a PlayStation 2 magazine: These are my 12 PS2-pilled recommendations from the Steam Autumn…
This article recommends 12 games available on Steam, inspired by or ports from the PlayStation 2 and Dreamcast era. It highlights six modern titles that draw inspiration from the 'sixth generation' of consoles, such as Promise Mascot Agency and Hi-Fi Rush, alongside six classic ports like Metal Gear Solid 3 and Final Fantasy 10.
Metal Gear Solid 2's first-ever boss skip has been discovered after 25 years, and it involves making a guard do the…
A significant boss skip has been discovered in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty after 25 years, allowing players to bypass the Olga Gurlukovich fight entirely. The exploit involves manipulating an unconscious guard and a checkpoint to bypass the bomb sequence, marking the first boss skip found for the game and potentially impacting future speedruns.
Metal Gear Solid 2 Speedrunner Discovers First Ever Boss Skip in 25 Years
A speedrunner named Apel has discovered the first-ever boss skip in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, 25 years after its release. The skip allows players to bypass the Olga Gurlukovich boss fight in the Tanker chapter by manipulating game progression flags. This discovery is a significant development for the game's speedrunning community and is expected to lead to new world records.
Stuntboost is a Tech Dech, skateboarding platformer all about doing sick flips on cardboard constructs in your bedroom, and it's out now
Stuntboost, a first-person skateboarding platformer where players perform tricks on cardboard constructions in a bedroom setting, has been released. The game features speedrunning elements, online leaderboards, and a late '90s/early 2000s inspired soundtrack. It is available on Steam.
Beautiful Freaks of the Desert is a speedrunning FPS flipping the middle finger at all things data center
Beautiful Freaks of the Desert, a new speedrunning first-person shooter with an anti-AI and data center sentiment, received its world premiere trailer at the PC Gaming Show. The game is set for a Q4 2026 release on PC and features 50 bite-sized levels, six weapon systems, and an explorable open-world desert.
Vacuum Pilot 2 – Open Beta | Alpha Beta Gamer
Vacuum Pilot 2, a 2D speedrunning game controlled entirely by mouse, is entering an open beta. Players can compete globally for the fastest times, with features including drifting for boost, public/private servers, and a ranked queue. The game also includes a level editor for user-created content.
The Rogue Prince of Persia Gets Major Update | Invision Game Community
Ubisoft and Evil Empire have released the first anniversary update for The Rogue Prince of Persia, a popular roguelite. This major expansion introduces new combat zones, a freeze/slow mechanic, speed run and parkour modes, daily challenges, and reworked final palace biome. The update also adds new weapons, tools, and companion animals, enhancing the game's core movement and combat systems.
SmugForce – Beta Sign Up | Alpha Beta Gamer
SmugForce is a physics-based third-person movement shooter where players slide, dive, and rocket jump through hostile underground raves to gun down the Neon Raver Gang and liberate Smugtopia. The game features bullet time mechanics, customizable weapon parameters, VRM support for custom character models, and a Speedrun Mode with global leaderboards. Players can sign up for the beta playtest.
"It really is accepting of of everybody": How Games Done Quick uses community to make a difference
Games Done Quick, a prominent charitable speedrunning organization, emphasizes its community-driven approach to fundraising and making a difference. Business director Ashley Farkas highlights how the collective effort of employees, runners, and audiences fosters a welcoming and impactful environment, raising millions for causes like Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The organization prioritizes inclusivity and creating safe spaces for all participants.
Half of France's premier FPS sibling duo just put out the most exhilarating parkour game I've ever played, and…
Vholume is an exhilarating parkour game developed by Léonard Lemaitre, one half of the duo behind the FPS Straftat. It offers a thrilling blend of speed, precision, and exploration with mechanics like wallrunning and crouch sliding, making it a standout title for both casual players and speedrunners. The game is available for PC at $8.
Speedrunner turns one of Metal Gear Solid 4's biggest bosses into a total pushover using the power of Master…
A speedrunner has discovered that the higher framerate in Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 significantly shortens the iconic Metal Gear Rex vs. Metal Gear Ray boss fight from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. The fight, which originally took longer, can now be completed in approximately 11 seconds due to the 60FPS capability, a change that has surprised players given the original game's technical limitations.
Shoe It All incoming for Nintendo Switch
Amberbite has announced that Shoe It All will be released on Nintendo Switch on September 3, 2026. The game features over 65 physics-based puzzles where players launch shoes to solve challenges, with options for speedrunning and exploring hidden content. It will be available digitally for $7.99.
The Biggest Gaming Show In The West Continues To Grow
Gamescom, one of the world's largest gaming shows, continues to grow by embracing a hybrid model that combines a significant on-site presence with a substantial digital reach. Organizers Tim Endres and Stefan Heikhaus discuss the event's success, its partnership with Geoff Keighley for Opening Night Live, and initiatives to support indie developers and speedrunning communities. They highlight the importance of both the physical gathering and the expanded digital engagement in making Gamescom a thriving global platform.
$62m raised for charity, a sanctuary for marginalised gamers, and a platform for indies: Why Games Done Quick is a beacon of hope for the gaming community
Games Done Quick (GDQ) has raised over $62 million for charities like Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation through its bi-annual speedrunning marathons. The organization has become a vital community hub, providing a safe and inclusive space for marginalized gamers, particularly the LGBTQ+ community, and also serves as a platform to showcase and boost the visibility of indie game developers. GDQ organizers aim to foster greater philanthropy within the gaming industry.
