Games Done Quick founder Mike Uyama steps down after 13 years and $41 million raised for charity

Founder of Games Done Quick, Mike Uyama, is stepping down after 13 years leading the speedrunning organisation which has raised a whopping $41 million for charity.

Uyama held the first Games Done Quick event in his mother’s basement back in 2010 and it’s fair to say that the organisation has grown exponentially since then. Uyama assumed the role of owner and managing director and helped raise money for charities including Prevent Cancer Foundation and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

Announcing the news, Uyama wrote in a statement, “Since I started Games Done Quick, I’ve seen it grow from a small volunteer effort to the thriving organisation that it is today. I would not have been able to do it without the help of Matt Merkle and the growth of GDQ would not have been possible without the help of the speedrunning community, which has grown both in size and diversity over the years.”

“I’m not sure where I’ll go next,” he continued. “But one thing I am sure about is that I will take a break and a vacation before diving headfirst into my next adventure.” Matt Merkle, who was previously serving as Games Done Quick’s director of operations, will assume Uyama’s role.

Merkle added, “I feel incredibly honoured to be entrusted with the future of GDQ by Uyama, and will do everything I can to build upon the foundation he has built for the organisation since its inception. I would not be where I am today without Mike and the team he has built. [...] I look forward to working with the speedrunning community and our staff going forward, and I hope to lead GDQ to new fundraising records.”

Uyama’s final event will be the upcoming Awesome Games Done Quick Online 2023 which will be held 8-15 January in support of Prevent Cancer Foundation.