A Groundbreaking Step in Play: The Quantum Challenge of DOOM
In a surprising development within the gaming community, the iconic 1993 classic Doom, known for its impressive flexibility in running on almost any platform—even a potato—turns out to be incompatible with full operation on the current generation of quantum computers. GitHub enthusiast Lumorti has crafted “Quandoom,” a quantum-modified version of Doom’s initial stage specifically for quantum processors. However, the nascent stage of quantum computing technology isn’t quite ready to take on this task effectively.
Historically, Doom has been ported to a spectrum of unconventional platforms, ranging from a potato with electrodes to a toothbrush outfitted with WiFi capabilities. Yet, Quandoom sets the bar high, requiring hardware that far exceeds what we possess today. The project calls for an extraordinary 70,000 qubits and a colossal circuit with 80 million quantum gates. To put this into perspective, the most advanced quantum computer currently available, created by Atom Computing, has a capacity of only 1,225 qubits. Matching Quandoom’s demands represents an immense technological leap, necessitating a nearly 70 times increase in qubits to even begin to play a single Doom map on quantum machines.
Quantum Hurdles in Gaming Evolution
Quandoom shines a light on the current limitations of quantum computers through its ambitious and intricate requirements. Lumorti shared insights into the difficulties experienced in converting Doom for quantum play, detailing the project: “To accomplish this, I’ve created roughly 8,000 lines of translated C++ code that facilitate a series of reversible operations, both binary and arithmetic, on quantum registers. Using these tools, I’ve managed to develop a compact 3D rendering engine and the core game logic.” The altered gameplay mechanics include a specialized ancilla and garbage system along with subroutines for quantum computing, with parallelization playing a crucial role in the rendering process.
Despite its complexity, Quandoom can be “effectively simulated” on standard laptops using the QASM simulator, suggesting that quantum computers still have a long road ahead before they can host complex gaming applications. This simplistic wireframe rendition of Doom—minus the soundtrack, sound effects, and certain gameplay elements—serves as a clear indication of the rudimentary stage of quantum gaming.
While Lumorti and the broader tech community are inching the gaming frontier forward, it’s clear that for now, conventional gaming platforms are the benchmark for gaming aficionados. As noted by commentator Andy Edser, the endeavor to execute Doom on quantum technology is more a bold exploration into what’s technologically achievable rather than an immediate, practical application.
