Speedons: A Gaming Marathon Where Every Second and Donation Counts
Speedons, the charitable gaming event that unites video games and solidarity for Médecins du Monde, returns for its fifth edition from February 27 to March 2, 2025. Broadcast live on Twitch from the Palais des Congrès de Lyon, the gathering of gamers will feature approximately 100 "speedrunners" who will take turns completing video games as quickly as possible. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of "viewers" expected each day, 2,800 people will attend the event in person.
Speedrunning at Speedons: A Test of Skill and Strategy
Beyond being a charitable event, Speedons is a gathering for speedrun enthusiasts. For 75 uninterrupted hours, players take turns trying to complete a video game as quickly as possible. It’s not just a matter of speed but also technical and strategic mastery. Players optimize every movement and action, including using shortcuts and even exploiting errors in the game’s code. Among the games selected this year are Super Mario All-Stars, Barbie, and Spirou.
The Origins of Speedons: A Streamer’s Passion for Gaming Charity
The event was created in 2020 by streamer MisterMV, whose real name is Xavier Dang. At the age of 44, he is one of the most experienced streamers in the gaming world. He began on the streaming platforms eLive and Showprime in 2011 before joining Twitch in 2012. He also launched his YouTube channel in 2010, where he mainly republishes parts of his live streams. From the outset, he hosted and participated in speedrunning events, such as Games Done Quick, a pioneering overseas charity gaming marathon. Speedons is greatly inspired by this event. Today, he has amassed over 1.3 million subscribers on Twitch and YouTube.
Supporting Médecins du Monde: A Mission of Access to Healthcare
Since its first edition, Speedons has donated all funds raised to Médecins du Monde. Over five years, the event has raised nearly 4.7 million euros to support access to healthcare for the most vulnerable populations. Last year’s edition broke all records, raising two million euros.
Interactive Engagement: Donations Powering Challenges
During the event, viewers are regularly invited to visit the website speedons.fr to make donations. "In addition to doing a good deed, they can make the event more exciting. Depending on the number of donations, challenges must be completed, such as finishing a game blindfolded," Mister MV explained in 2024. The sale of T-shirts online is also a significant source of funds for the NGO. "The more we exceed certain sales levels, the greater the margin for Médecins du Monde," he added.
Record-Breaking Performances: Pushing the Boundaries of Gaming Mastery
Each year, Speedons showcases impressive runs on both classic and recent games. World records are attempted live, and collective challenges contribute to the marathon’s success. The length of a performance depends on the game. In 2023, player Eryment set a new world record on Command and Conquer Remastered. Player Qlex, a Tetris specialist, completed Tetris Grand Master for the first time ever.
Last year, player Borther_Main finished the game Metroid in 1 hour and 28 minutes. Each performance was met with thunderous applause from the enthusiastic audience. The players are not paid but receive travel expenses.
Speedons’ International Expansion: Reaching New Audiences
Year after year, Speedons breaks its own records: more viewers, more games, and most importantly, more donations. Each ticket is sold for 15 euros per day. Its fifth anniversary could be another historic edition as it expands internationally, with broadcasts in Germany, Japan, and the United States on the Games Done Quick (GDQ) channel, the most-watched speedrunning marathon in the world. Having recorded 1.5 million unique viewers last year, the audience is expected to explode this year.
