World’s Most Powerful Quantum Computer Can’t Run Classic Doom

As a seasoned tech enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the creation of “Quandoom” by Lumorti is nothing short of mind-boggling! Here we have a game as iconic as Doom being ported to a quantum computer – a feat that has left even the most powerful quantum devices gasping for breath. It’s like trying to fit a battleship in a toy box, but with qubits instead of wooden planks!


A coder known as Lumorti has developed a software called “Quandoom,” which allows you to play the initial level of Doom on a quantum computer. Regrettably, not even the most advanced quantum computer currently available, built by Atom Computing with 1,225 qubits, can execute it. The project requires a minimum of 70,000 qubits and around 80 million logic gates to get started.

It’s well known that any functional computing device ever built can run the game Doom. After many years of exploration, no practical use for quantum computers has been found so far. However, this is about to change with the introduction of Quandoom today. This is a preliminary version of Doom designed for a quantum computer, represented by a single QASM file and requiring only 70,000 qubits and 80 million gates. Although such a quantum computer doesn’t exist yet, Quandoom can be simulated effectively on a traditional computer, running at 10-20 frames per second on a laptop, thanks to the included lightweight (consisting of just 150 lines of C++ code) simulator called QASM.

– explains the author of the project.

For now, we can mimic the game operating on a quantum computer using the QASM Simulator, which operates efficiently on standard PC hardware with at least 5 GB of RAM. However, keep in mind that the game’s performance isn’t optimal yet, as it renders only about 10-20 frames per second.

Challenges faced by programmers

Developing a game suitable for a quantum computer is no easy task. In order to put the quantum operations into action and design the 3D title’s basic logic, Lumorti had to write over 8000 lines of C++ code. Due to their unique functionality, quantum computers differ significantly from classical ones. As a result, designing games for this new technology demands a fresh perspective and innovative solutions.

Why Doom?

For decades, Doom has been a tough nut to crack for game developers due to its straightforward design and wide-ranging appeal. It’s often employed as a benchmark to assess both old and modern technologies’ performance. Therefore, running Doom on a quantum computer could symbolize a significant milestone, demonstrating the technology’s potential capabilities.

The future of games on quantum computers

Even though it’s not possible to play Doom on a quantum computer at this moment, the development of Quangoom represents a significant stride towards achieving that goal. Lumorti is focusing on optimizing the code, with the hope that one day, the game could potentially run on genuine quantum hardware.

Quantum technology advancements are happening swiftly, and it’s plausible that in tandem with AI-driven innovations, powerful enough quantum computers could be developed in the near future. These computers might not only run classic games like Doom, but also far more complex ones.

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2024-10-04 18:01