Diablo Speedrun Exposed: 15-Year-Old World Record Proven Fake!

 

In the world of speedrunning, breaking records isn’t just about skill—it’s about precision, knowledge of game mechanics, and, sometimes, a little bit of luck. But what if a record was so impossibly good that even luck couldn’t explain it?

That’s exactly what happened with a Diablo speedrun that stood uncontested for 15 years. The 3-minute and 12-second run by Maciej "Groobo" Maselewski was hailed as legendary, a seemingly untouchable feat of gaming prowess. But as it turns out, the run wasn’t just impressive—it was impossible.

Thanks to a group of dedicated Diablo hackers and researchers, the truth has finally come to light: the record was faked. And the evidence is about as airtight as an airlock on the Death Star.

The Speedrun That Defied the Odds

For over a decade, Groobo’s speedrun of Diablo was considered the gold standard. It was so fast, so optimized, and so seemingly flawless that no one came close to beating it.

But there was a problem. Even the best runners, using identical strategies, couldn’t replicate it. And that’s when suspicion started creeping in.

Enter the Diablo Mapgen team—a group of hackers, modders, and tech-savvy sleuths who decided to take a closer look at the run. Using advanced reverse-engineering techniques, they analyzed how Diablo generates its dungeons and whether the layout in Groobo’s run could have ever existed in a real, unmodified game.

Spoiler alert: It couldn’t.

2.2 Billion Dungeons Later…

Diablo uses a randomized dungeon generation system, meaning that no two runs are ever quite the same. However, the game still follows certain rules—rules that the Mapgen team painstakingly mapped out by running simulations of every possible dungeon layout.

And after generating 2.2 billion unique dungeons, they found exactly zero that matched the map in Groobo’s speedrun.

That’s a statistical impossibility. It’s like rolling a 20-sided die a hundred times and getting a natural 20 every single time. Either you’re the luckiest person in the galaxy, or you’re using loaded dice.

The Inconsistencies That Gave It Away

Once the cracks started forming, more inconsistencies began to appear:

• Mismatched Game Versions – The version of Diablo Groobo claimed to use didn’t align with the one visible in the footage.
• Weird Inventory Glitches – Items in the run changed positions in ways that weren’t possible through normal gameplay.
• Perfect Enemy Spawns – Every enemy was placed exactly where a runner would want them, an impossibility with the game’s standard RNG.

At this point, the evidence wasn’t just piling up—it was a mountain. And unlike the Death Star, this one didn’t have an exhaust port to escape through.

The Fallout: Speedrun Removed, Record Wiped

With the evidence irrefutable, the speedrunning community took swift action.

• Speed Demos Archive (SDA) – One of the most respected speedrun databases, removed Groobo’s run from their records.
• Guinness World Records – The record is still listed (for now), but given the overwhelming proof, it’s likely just a matter of time before it’s erased.

It’s a huge moment for gaming history—one of the most famous speedruns ever was nothing more than a cleverly edited illusion.

Why This Matters: Gaming's Eternal Battle Against Cheating

Speedrunning has always had its share of frauds, from tool-assisted runs masquerading as real-time gameplay to outright spliced footage. But what makes this case so fascinating is how long the deception lasted.

For 15 years, Groobo’s run was an untouchable legend. And it took a team of dedicated experts, thousands of hours of analysis, and 2.2 billion dungeon tests to finally bring the truth to light.

This case isn’t just about one fraudulent record—it’s about preserving the integrity of speedrunning. If something this big can slip through the cracks, who knows how many other records deserve a second look?

Conclusion: The End of a Gaming Myth

At the end of the day, speedrunning is about more than just being fast. It’s about skill, perseverance, and pushing games to their absolute limits—without cheating.

Groobo’s run may have been an impressive feat of video editing, but it wasn’t a true display of gaming mastery. And thanks to a team of dedicated Diablo hackers, the record books are finally being corrected.

But if this whole scandal has put you in the mood for some real old-school Diablo action, why not own a piece of history? Check out the last Diablo 1 PlayStation disc in the world—because sometimes, the best way to appreciate a game’s history is to experience it for yourself.

Now, if only someone could do a deep dive into whether the Millennium Falcon could really make the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs…

Posted in: diablo 1