A Dog Will Become the First Ever Canine Speedrunner at AGDQ 2024

UPDATE: The game Peanut Butter will be speedrunning at AGDQ 2024 is Gyromite, not Zelda 2. The article has been updated to reflect that. IGN regrets the error.

ORIGINAL STORY: Prepare for a gaming event like no other, as a four-legged contender is all set to dash into the spotlight at Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) 2024, making history as the first dog to complete a speedrun in a video game for the popular event.

A shiba inu will speedrun a game at @GamesDoneQuick this January; he will be the first dog to do so:https://t.co/IA78oPZwe2— JSR_@TwitchCon/GDQx (@JSR2gamers) October 17, 2023

In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), runner @JSR2gamers posted an announcement video teasing his dog Peanut Butter (also affectionately called P.B. by his owner) and the milestone he is set to embark on next year. This is not the first time Peanut Butter has speedrun a game; three months ago, his owner uploaded a video of the good boy speedrunning the NES game Gyromite, which P.B. completed in 25 minutes and 29 seconds.

How the pup will speedrun Gyromite

Now, Peanut Butter does not have any thumbs (obviously), making it difficult to hold a controller. Yet, his owner can have the dog play a game thanks to a custom controller built by JSR_. The controller is mapped to four separate buttons: A, B, both buttons, and the Select button, according to JSR_'s YouTube description. 

Since 2010, Awesome Games Done Quick has been a popular gaming event where the event broadcasts creators speedrunning various games, all while raising money for charity. For numerous reasons, next year's Awesome Games Done Quick event will be historic. Aside from Peanut Butter being the first dog to speed run a game, AGDQ will mark a return to the event being held in-person since 2020 and the first one held in downtown Pittsburg, PA, as the event was previously held annually in Florida. 

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.