Games Done Quick’s has announced that their next charity event, Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ), will be making change in venue. The organizers revealed that AGDQ will take place from January 8-15, 2023, albeit with a major change. Instead of an in-person event like the previous one, AGDQ will instead be online only. The event was apparently set to take place in the state of Florida, but as the organizers state in a rather lengthy Twitter post, the state’s current policies on COVID-19 and the LGBTQ+ community have forced them to make the decision to change the event’s presentation.
The organizers state that Florida’s “continued disregard” for both the ongoing pandemic and the “increased aggression” with LGBTQ+ communities have made them come to a determination that it will no longer be able to create a safe place or situation for their fan base and attendees. As for they’re not simply moving to another location and state, the organizers mentioned that they signed a contract with the venue in Florida in 2020, and moving it to another venue could potentially break the contract and result in costs that would be too great. They also state that by canceling the event in the venue, they are now required to pay a cancelation fee, and and cannot delay the contract any longer.
Considering the numerous charities and different communities that Games Done Quick supports with their live events, this move is not a surprising one. This includes the Flame, Frost, and Fleet Fatales stream which supports all-women groups, and the Juneteenth Celebration where they highlighted Black speedrunners on their stream. AGDQ will still take place as an online-only event and will support Prevent Cancer Foundation. For those who wish to volunteer, or those who wish to submit a game can do so starting September 11.