Gaming News
Doom Runs on a DNS Database: 6.4 Million Rows of Truth
Developing
Cover: GenZHype original graphic. All clips and posts below are embedded from their original sources.
By the numbers: this timeline documents 3 events from Oct 12, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026, drawn from 2 sources.
“I have compiled Doom for a 32-bit machine whose arithmetic and memory live in DNS.”
via pcgamer.com
Our take
This project demonstrates the extreme limits of what can be achieved with standard infrastructure by repurposing DNS as a computational engine. The 54.4-second tic rate highlights the massive performance gap between specialized hardware and general-purpose databases, even when optimized by a DNS pioneer's own tools.
Background
DNS, or the Domain Name System, is primarily known for translating URLs into IP addresses. However, it functions fundamentally as a database capable of storing strings, integers, and JSON objects, according to theregister.com. Corey Quinn, writing for The Register, noted that databases can store arithmetic answers and comparison operators, effectively acting as a 'remarkably inconvenient calculator' if connected to follow instructions.
The concept of running Doom on minimal hardware has a history, with previous attempts on vapes, motherboard BIOS systems, and pregnancy tests. Quinn's approach differs from earlier instances where Doom was broken down into DNS text records for file storage; this implementation uses the database for active arithmetic and memory operations, leveraging RFC 2136 DNS UPDATE to allow records to change, which is necessary for updating variables in a game world.
The timeline
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Corey Quinn published DNS-based Doom implementation
Corey Quinn reportedly announced he compiled Doom for a 32-bit machine whose arithmetic and memory live in DNS. He reportedly explained that the database contains 6.4 million rows of truth tables, and while BIND answers queries in microseconds, a 32-bit add requires four DNS lookups, making the game unplayable on human timescales without significant optimization.[1]
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Paul Vixie reacted to the DNS Doom project
Paul Vixie, a DNS pioneer and co-author of RFC 2136, reportedly responded to Quinn's project. Vixie reportedly stated he could not decide if the project was 'deliciously horrible' or 'horribly delicious,' but reportedly confirmed it was the best use of RFC 2136 DNS UPDATE he had ever seen.[1]
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PC Gamer reported on the DNS Doom project
According to PC Gamer, Quinn reportedly optimized the system to reduce the time per game tic from 577 seconds to 54.4 seconds. The article reportedly clarified that the system is not a CPU but a database performing key-value reads and conditional writes, and reportedly noted that the code is available on GitHub.[1]
Our read of the evidence
Mostly unverified. All three timeline entries are based solely on reports from pcgamer.com, with no primary‑source verification provided. The evidence rests entirely on secondary reporting, and only a single outlet is cited for those reports. Consequently, the claims remain largely unverified.
Our rating counts evidence, not opinions about anyone: events confirmed by a primary source (the person's own post, their official site, a court or government record) weigh most, then how many independent outlets report the story.
Frequently asked
Can you actually play Doom on a DNS database?
Technically yes, but it is not playable on human timescales. According to Corey Quinn, one game tic takes 54.4 seconds, which is three orders of magnitude away from the required 28.6 ms for a smooth experience.
How does Doom run on DNS?
The system uses DNS as memory and arithmetic storage. According to Corey Quinn, the database contains 6.4 million rows of precomputed truth tables, and BIND handles key-value reads and conditional writes to execute game logic.
What did Paul Vixie say about the project?
Paul Vixie, a DNS pioneer, called it the best use of RFC 2136 DNS UPDATE he had ever seen. He described the project as both 'deliciously horrible' and 'horribly delicious.'
Is the code for DNS Doom available?
Yes, the code is published on GitHub. According to PC Gamer, Corey Quinn has made the code available for others to try out the project.
Why is DNS UPDATE important for this project?
DNS UPDATE allows DNS records to be changed, which is required for values and variables to update in a game world. According to PC Gamer, this is the key trick that allows the database to replicate conditional code logic.
More related drama (4)
Sources (2)
Cite this timeline
This timeline compiles 3 dated events from 2 sources. If it helped your reporting, cite it:
GenZHype. “Doom Runs on a DNS Database: 6.4 Million Rows of Truth.”
GenZHype, 14 October 2026,
https://genzhype.com/gaming/doom-runs-on-a-dns-database-6-4-million-rows-of-truth/.