At this year’s Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) 2025, a speedrunner known as Chuckles825 performed a unique and inventive Crazy Taxi speedrun accompanied by a live pop-punk band. This creative approach was designed to circumvent copyright issues associated with the game’s iconic licensed soundtrack, which has historically made it difficult for Crazy Taxi to appear in public events like AGDQ.
The live band played energetic pop-punk tracks in real-time during the speedrun, closely matching the chaotic and fast-paced gameplay of Crazy Taxi. The band had to adapt dynamically, stopping and starting their music based on in-game events such as level completions or resets. This added an extra layer of entertainment and spontaneity to the run, making it a standout moment at AGDQ 2025. The performance was described as “wild, fun, and silly,” perfectly capturing the spirit of the game.
This marks Crazy Taxi’s first appearance at AGDQ in over a decade. The game had been excluded from previous events due to its reliance on licensed music, which often leads to DMCA takedowns during livestreams. By using a live band instead of the original soundtrack, Chuckles825 and the event organizers found a clever way to showcase the game while avoiding legal complications.
AGDQ 2025 raised over $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, with Crazy Taxi’s speedrun being one of the event’s highlights. Fans praised the creativity of the run and suggested that similar approaches could be used for other games with licensing challenges, such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
