London-based startup Moth has launched Quantum Backrooms, the first consumer game running on actual quantum hardware. This was reported by Quantum Computing Report.
The app is inspired by a popular creepypasta and features a procedurally generated maze of office and utility rooms. Unlike traditional games, where randomness is created using pseudo-random algorithms, the levels here are formed using quantum processors.
The developers have linked the game mechanics to the architecture of QPU systems:
- individual qubits represent sections of the map;
- quantum entanglement defines the structure and connections between locations;
- the environment changes based on the state of the quantum system.
The project utilizes existing setups from IBM and IQM. Moth emphasized that the game remains platform-independent and can operate on various quantum backends.
Currently, Quantum Backrooms is available to a limited number of users as part of alpha testing. A public release is scheduled for the end of 2026.
Quantum Equivalent of Early AI Applications
The company compared the launch of Quantum Backrooms to early consumer experiments in generative AI, such as DALL-E and Magenta. The goal of the project is to present quantum computing not just as a laboratory technology but as a tool for the mass audience.
In addition to the game itself, Moth is developing a low-code/no-code platform for creating quantum applications without requiring deep theoretical knowledge or technical skills. The company aims to build an ecosystem of consumer products around quantum computing before the industry achieves full hardware resilience.
It is worth noting that in May, experts questioned D-Wave's claims of achieving quantum supremacy.