Doom has achieved immortality through ports to the most ridiculous devices imaginable. The latest entry in this legendary saga? Doombuds – Doom running on a pair of wireless earbuds. Sydney-based web developer Arin Sarkisian took the PineBuds Pro, cranked their CPU to 300MHz, optimized the hell out of Doom’s code, and made the impossible real. You can even play it remotely through a browser queue connected to his actual earbuds.
How Doombuds Actually Works
PineBuds Pro aren’t your typical AirPods. These open-source earbuds pack enough processing power to theoretically run lightweight games, but Doom? That’s next-level engineering. Sarkisian explains he disabled low-power mode and overclocked the CPU to 300MHz, giving the buds enough juice for playable performance at around 18fps.
Memory was the real challenge. Doom needs about 4MB RAM, but these earbuds only hold 4MB total storage. Sarkisian used the ultra-optimized 1.7MB Squashware WAD and implemented aggressive optimizations to squeeze it all in. The result plays Doom – slowly, but recognizably – entirely on the earbuds themselves.
Remote Play via Twitch Stream
No screen on earbuds means no direct viewing, so Sarkisian built a clever remote play solution. His Doombuds website embeds a Twitch stream of the earbuds’ output with a virtual queue system. Join the queue from your browser, take control when it’s your turn, and play Doom running on actual earbuds a thousand miles away.
The latency works surprisingly well for such a bizarre setup. Input goes from your browser to the earbuds, Doom renders frame-by-frame on the tiny processor, streams back via Twitch, and repeats. It’s not smooth 144fps esports glory, but for a game running on jewelry-level hardware, 18fps feels miraculous.
Doom Port Legacy
This isn’t the first absurd Doom port, but it’s among the most elegant. We’ve seen Doom running on pregnancy tests, 100 pounds of moldy potatoes, ATMs, printers, Lego bricks, and even bacteria. Earrings got their own port back in 2023 using tiny Raspberry Pi keychains. Doombuds stands out because it runs entirely on the target device without external computers doing the heavy lifting.
The secret sauce? id Tech 1’s minimalist design. Doom’s engine was revolutionary because it ran on 1993 hardware with 4MB RAM and 486 processors. Developers have spent decades peeling back its layers, discovering optimizations that make it run anywhere. Each new port pushes those boundaries further, proving software engineering hasn’t changed – just the canvas.
| Doom Port | Hardware Specs | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Doombuds (PineBuds Pro) | 300MHz CPU, 4MB storage | 18fps |
| Pregnancy Test | Single LED display | 1fps (turn-based) |
| 100lbs Potatoes | Arduino + LEDs | ~10fps |
| ATM Machine | Receipt printer display | Text-only, ~5fps |
| Original PC (1993) | 486 33MHz, 4MB RAM | 35fps |
| Modern Gaming PC | RTX 5090, 64GB RAM | 1000+fps |
Technical Deep Dive
The PineBuds Pro run community-developed open-source firmware, which made this port possible. Sarkisian didn’t need to build custom firmware from scratch – just optimize Doom for the existing hardware. Key optimizations included:
- Using Squashware WAD (1.7MB vs original 4MB+)
- CPU overclock from stock speeds to 300MHz
- Disabled power-saving features
- Memory compression algorithms
- Reduced texture resolutions
- Simplified enemy AI behaviors
These aren’t cheats – they’re legitimate techniques developers used even on 1990s PCs. Modern Doom ports to ARM chips, pregnancy tests, and now earbuds all rely on the same principles that made Doom run on pizza boxes back in the day.
Why This Matters Beyond the Gimmick
Doombuds proves embedded systems engineering hasn’t changed much. Microcontrollers in earbuds today match 1990s PC power. The real innovation lies in software optimization, not raw hardware. Every Doom port teaches us how to squeeze maximum performance from minimal resources – skills that matter for IoT devices, mobile games, and even modern consoles targeting budget hardware.
It also showcases open-source hardware’s power. Pine64’s decision to release open firmware enabled this entirely. Proprietary earbuds like AirPods or Galaxy Buds couldn’t host Doom because manufacturers lock down the firmware. Open hardware invites creativity that closed ecosystems suppress.
Try It Yourself
Want to frag demons on earbuds? Visit doombuds.com, join the queue, and take control when your turn comes. The remote play works surprisingly well despite the 18fps cap and internet latency. For the truly dedicated, Sarkisian shared all code and build instructions on GitHub. Buy PineBuds Pro (~$50), flash the firmware, install the Doom port, and run the original FPS in your ears.
Pro tip: the standalone viewer works on mobile browsers too, letting you play Doombuds from your phone while the earbuds do all the actual processing. It’s peak 2026 technology delivering 1993 gaming.
Gaming Community Reactions
Reddit exploded with excitement. r/Games called it “the most 2026 thing possible.” r/itrunsdoom (the Doom port subreddit) hit 100+ upvotes in hours. Comments praised the clean execution over gimmicky ports that fake most processing on a connected PC.
PC Gamer called it “impressive despite Doom port fatigue.” The article noted we’ve seen Doom everywhere, but Doombuds earns respect through technical elegance. No pregnancy tests or potato farms here – just pure software engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play Doom on earbuds without a screen?
The earbuds stream video output via Twitch to your browser. You join a queue, take control remotely, and play using keyboard/mouse on your PC while Doom runs entirely on the earbuds.
What’s special about PineBuds Pro?
They’re the only major earbuds with fully open-source firmware. This lets developers modify core systems, overclock CPUs, and run custom code. Proprietary buds lock you out of firmware access.
Can I run Doombuds on my own earbuds?
Yes! PineBuds Pro cost around $50. Flash the open-source firmware, apply Sarkisian’s Doom port from GitHub, and you’re slaying demons. No PC required after setup.
Is 18fps playable?
Surprisingly, yes. Original Doom targeted 35fps on 1993 hardware. 18fps feels closer to classic PC gaming than modern standards. The remote latency adds more delay than framerate.
Why does Doom run everywhere?
Minimalist design from 1993. 4MB RAM, simple 2.5D engine, software rendering. Decades of optimization by the community stripped it to bare essentials runnable anywhere with basic processing.
Will AirPods ever run Doom?
No. Apple locks firmware completely. Even jailbroken iPhones struggle with custom low-level code. Open hardware wins for crazy projects like this.
What’s the most ridiculous Doom port ever?
100 pounds of moldy potatoes communicating via Arduino and LEDs takes the crown for sheer absurdity. Doombuds wins for practical elegance.
Conclusion
Doombuds cements Doom’s status as the ultimate programming flex. Running a 1993 FPS on 2026 earbuds proves software optimization beats hardware power every time. This isn’t just a gimmick – it’s a masterclass in embedded engineering, open-source collaboration, and the timeless elegance of id Tech 1. Play it yourself via browser queue and experience gaming history running where no game should. The fact you can frag demons from a Sydney developer’s earbuds using nothing but a web browser might be peak internet. Doom doesn’t just run anywhere – it thrives there.