Virtually Human Studio, which created the successful blockchain horse racing game Zed Run, announced the beta launch of Zed Champions.Read More

Auxia secures $23.5M to help enterprises leverage first-party data with AI agents, boosting customer lifetime value by 84% and solving the costly customer reacquisition problem.Read More

Chris Kerr, News EditorMarch 4, 20252 Min ReadImage via AcclaimAt a GlanceIndustry veterans are reviving Acclaim, a long-dead publisher that filed for bankruptcy in 2004.Iconic publisher Acclaim is being revived by a group of industry veterans hoping to support to indies and resurrect classic franchises.Originally launched in 1987, Acclaim was known for working on popular series like NBA Jam, Turok, and Mortal Kombat. After a period of sustained success in the '90s, the company began to decline and eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2004selling off key assets as a result.Now, the brand is being relaunched under the supervision of an advisory team that includes Russell Binder at Striker Entertainment, Mark Caplan at Ridge Partners,and Jeff Jarrett at Global Force Entertainment.Marketing and publishing veteran Alex Josef has been named CEO of the revitalised publisher.Josef previously served as the CEO of full service publisher Graffiti Gamesknown for working on titles like Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion and Restless Souland revealed Acclaim has already signed multiple projects."It's an absolute honor and pleasure to be leading the charge in bringing Acclaim back to the forefront of the games industry," said Josef. "We're fortunate that we have an extremely talented team and that weve already signed some incredible indie titles, which well be revealing soon."Acclaim will offer funding, marketing, and PR support to help independent studios "bring their creative visions to a broad audience.""One of the key goals for the relaunched Acclaim is to resurrect and revitalize its beloved portfolio of classic IP enjoyed for years by millions of players," adds a press release, suggesting remakes and remasters could be on the cards.Speaking to Game Developer, Josef said the group had considered acquiring two classic publishing brands, but emphasised that Acclaim was always the "main target.""In 2024, we came to terms with the last group of stakeholders that owned the logo and name mark and, then it was off to the races," he explained. "Acclaim has had such a massive impact on gaming history with so many notable titles spanning multiple genres and nearly every major license over the gaming landscape. We are having a number of conversations to assess opportunities with classic Acclaim IP that fans want to experience most."Now that Acclaim is back in action, the team hopes to deliver a product slate that includes independent titles from developers keen to build their own franchises and games that refresh existing IPs in a way that serves fans."Our vision for evolving Acclaim includes a product mix that brings the best of independent titles from developers who are building their own emerging brands alongside matchmaking where Acclaim can connect the dots with global brands that are culturally relevant," he continued."Any IP refresh absolutely must elevate the game, and the game must elevate the brand. We take this very seriously, and fan service is the cornerstone for us across our team, our greenlight process, and how we're approaching our release strategy."About the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Long-serving Jagex CEO Phil Mansell is vacating the role after eight years.Mansell will be succeeded by Jon Bellamy, who previously held executive roles at the company from 2015 to 2018 and has served on the Jagex Board since 2024.Notably, Bellamy also serves as an advisor for CVC Capital Partnersthe private equity firm that purchased Jagex alongside Haveli Investments in 2024.Mansell served as CEO from 2017. He initially joined Jagex in 2011 as a lead designer on PC title Stellar Dawn, before transitioning into the role of Runescape design and monetisation manager.He climbed the ranks over the next decade, serving as executive producer of Runescape and Old School Runescape, vice president of studios, and eventually CEO.In a post shared on Linkedin, Mansell said he's passing the torch to Bellamy so he can deliver the next phase of growth."I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved as a team over the last 10+ years," said Mansell. "Consistent player and revenue growth in a turbulent market, near-tripling the playerbase, expanding into mobile, winning a BAFTA, innovating in community-driven games and forging RuneScape as one of the absolute top MMORPG franchises. This is an amazing platform setup for even greater success ahead."Mansell will remain with the company for the time being to ensure a smooth transition.Inbound CEO Bellamy intends to outline his broader vision for Jagex in the near future, but said he remains committed to ensuring the quality of the company's product slate."Its a great honour to assume the leadership of Jagex and to help steward a game franchise that means so much to so many millions, myself included," he added in a press release."I am also excited to get to work with the outstanding team, whom I know well from my time on the Board, to ensure our games continue to be the best in the world. I plan to spend some time now with the team, reviewing our ambitions for Jagex, and plan to communicate my broader vision to the RuneScape community in the near-term."

The Trump administration has been hacking away at federal government websites, taking down information about climate change and anything deemed woke. Now, theres an online tool you can use to track the changes and find missing information.Researchers initially developed the Federal Environmental Web Tracker to document similar changes during the first Trump administration, and they resurrected the tool this week. Its basically a big spreadsheet that includes links to webpages that are either down completely or have had significant changes made since Trump stepped back into office. By early February, just a couple weeks or so after Trump stepped into office, FEMA was already deleting the term climate from its website. As of this morning, the Federal Environmental Web Tracker includes more than 200 entries for federal webpages that have been altered. Itll be updated weekly by the nonprofit group that made it, called the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI). The Federal Environmental Web Tracker includes more than 200 entries for federal webpages that have been alteredSome of the changes are subtle like an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) webpage that shares data on pollution from power plants being renamed Power Sector Data instead of Power Sector Emissions Data. The datas still there, and the change in the title might help that information stay online by flying under the radar, as Trump administration officials arbitrarily yank stuff they consider taboo. But there are also entire webpages or sections of content that have vanished. Much of that content relates to the ways that certain communities are disproportionately affected by climate change and pollution because of poverty or the history of segregation and racism in the US. EPA pages on climate change, human health, and childrens health, for example, no longer include links to information about equity. RelatedThanks to EDGI and other groups archiving these webpages, you can use the resurrected web tracker and the Internet Archives Wayback Machine to see old versions of websites. Documenting the transformation taking place now is crucial for policymakers and advocates who want to make that information publicly available again.Advocates are already taking action to try to bring resources back online. Organic farmers filed suit against the Trump administration last week for removing content they rely on to help them grow crops, alleging that the US Department of Agricultures sudden removal of key online resources broke federal law. It follows a similar lawsuit filed by doctors that led to some federal webpages on health disparities being restored.See More:

Split Fiction, the new game from It Takes Two developer Hazelight Studios, doesnt do anything particularly new. The game is a straightforward co-op adventure that strings together disparate sci-fi and fantasy games like links on a chain. If you bundled together the sci-fi and fantasy sections as separate entities, they wouldnt form a cohesive experience in either gameplay or story. And the overarching narrative that connects them all is a pretty heavy-handed (though necessary, in todays climate) parable about the rapaciousness of generative AI tools and the creative bankruptcy of the executives that develop them.Nevertheless, theres an ironic genius in Split Fiction precisely because it takes so many little gameplay elements that Ive seen and done before and executes them with a brilliance and polish I have not. In Split Fiction, you and a partner play as Zoe and Mio, two people who have come to the curiously named Rader Corporation under the auspices of getting their stories published. But gasp! instead of getting paid, they get trapped in a machine designed to extract peoples creative ideas. After mishaps and shenanigans, Zoe and Mio are forced to work their way through virtual simulations of each others stories in hopes of stopping Raders plan to own all stories to exploit for profit forever. Its about as subtle as a brick to the face, but what do you expect from the studio run by the guy who said, Fuck the Oscars?An example of some of the different powers you get to play around with in Split Fiction. Image: Hazelight StudiosSplit Fiction is an obligate co-op game. For this review, my husband Travis and I hopped between Mios futuristic cities and Zoes fantastical kingdoms like walking through the cars of a passenger train. In each section, we got a new set of powers designed to work only in that particular world. For one level themed around shapeshifting, I had the power to turn into a magical ape and an otter, while Travis could transform into a fairy or a Groot-like tree creature. We had to use our different forms with their different abilities in tandem to navigate the world. My ape form smashed obstacles that impeded our path, while Travis Groot form manipulated the environment to create new paths forward. In one of the sci-fi sections, I wait, I actually dont remember. Let me go look.Oh, yeah. I got a sword that slashed enemies and also functioned as a kind of personal gravity manipulator while Travis toyed around with a whip that pulled enemies and other objects toward him. In that memory lapse lies my one complaint with the game: the moment-to-moment gameplay dissolves in your mind like so much cotton candy. Marios powers in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, like the elephant power-up or the drill hat, were so distinct and unique that they carved out their own place in my memory of the game. Theres a reason people can recall Titanfall 2s Effect and Cause or Halo 2s Gravemind levels by name. Split Fiction has none of that. Yes, its fun in the moment and is an immensely enjoyable experience overall, but the things you do in it and the story it tells are so generic theyre immediately forgettable. Travis and I finished Split Fiction in 12 hours stretched across daily play sessions over the last week. And though we rolled credits just yesterday, neither of us could recall with any certainty any of the powers we had in the first five hours of the game.But, honestly, thats okay because its not the gameplay itself that makes Split Fiction as enjoyable as it is; its the co-op experience. Most co-op games weve played arent true cooperative experiences, and we wind up playing a game separately together. But Split Fiction is strict as hell, requiring precise communication and execution while being forgiving enough that players at different skill levels (say, parent and child) can still play together.Split Fiction is stuffed with references to other games that are a delight to discover. Image: Hazelight StudiosOur favorite moment in the whole game was where he and I essentially played two-player pinball. We navigated the level I controlled the paddles and launcher, he controlled the ball while a boss chased us. We had to give each other directions about what paddle I had to flick or precisely when he had to jump while outrunning a murderous robot, where one mistake or missed timing would result in death. Theres something so good about talking with your partner through a high-stakes task. Cliche as it sounds, it felt like our minds and bodies had melded together like the Jaeger pilots in Pacific Rim. It was honestly kinda sexy.It was also really fun how our character choices mapped exactly to our personalities. I chose Mio, the sci-fi writer, while Travis was Zoe, the fantasy girl. Like Zoe, my husband doesnt care for sci-fi, but his lockscreen and desktop background are an ever-rotating gallery of old-school high-fantasy art. Meanwhile I, like Mio, get annoyed with my husband and Zoes indefatigable cheerfulness and can watch Interstellar, Sunshine, and Event Horizon on repeat. It was really cute.While Split Fictions story is largely forgettable, we both enjoyed its telling. The game is littered with references to so many other games, and it was fun pointing them out. Im a big sap, so I enjoyed seeing my husband get excited about a reference he caught. I got such a kick when he recognized the legally distinct Halo 2 section or started happily shouting, Its Battletoads! during a boss fight. Ill also say the games final boss fight had the innovation I had hoped to see more of throughout the game itself. I wont spoil the specifics because its a nice little parting gift to players, but it was a trippy, exciting sequence that played hell on our visual perception.Since we played It Takes Two together, we were looking forward to Split Fiction also having little minigame breaks in the middle of the narrative. Split Fictions version of that were side stories where Zoe and Mio would pop out of the main story to have a short adventure in another world. Travis favorite was a creepy-cute Fall Guys-inspired level where we played as anthropomorphic teeth, while mine involved sketches of characters progressing through a story where all the action was being drawn in real time by a giant pencil.One of my favorite moments was a side story that featured hand-drawn graphics. Image: Hazelight StudiosWe loved Split Fiction because, along with its predecessor It Takes Two, its the only modern game my husband and I can play together that doesnt leave us wanting to kill each other. The gameplay was simple but required a level of cooperation that was deeply satisfying to pull off. Its a cotton-candy ass game, and I wont be able to tell you a specific thing about it in a week other than its fun, but thats fine. We like cotton candy because it tastes good, not because eating it is a particularly memorable experience.Split Fiction launches March 6th on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.See More:

Cracking clean Gromit! We hope youre ready for a grand day out to clean up the world of Aardmans endlessly inventive duo, in the new PowerWash Simulator Wallace & Gromit Special Pack, available today.We worked closely with our partners at Aardman Animations to faithfully recreate the world of 62 West Wallaby Street in PowerWash Simulator. In the special packs five new levels, you can explore the nooks and crannies of their garden, kitchen and dining room and basement, before blasting into space to clean the Moon Rocket.Grab the cheese and crackers while FuturLabs Mark Ginbey, who writes PowerWash Simulator, and Animator Alannah Meek, who works on the games charming animations, take us behind-the-scenes of bringing the pack, and the WASH LAD, to life!Get Cracking!A key part of designing any PowerWash Special Pack is deciding why everything got so messy in the first place. In the case of the Wallace & Gromit pack, things have gone a bit pear-shaped over at 62 West Wallaby Street following a mechanical malfunction the biggest disaster since the cracker catastrophe of 89!Creating the story for such beloved creations was quite a daunting prospect, but luckily theyre a mucky pair who effortlessly find themselves in all manner of sticky situations, so ideas flowed as quickly as porridge from a malfunctioning AutoChef, says Ginbey.There was no need for any convoluted over-arching narrative, we just needed to put the pair in a series of familiar environments and ask ourselves what could possibly go wrong here? Then it was just a case of letting the dirt tell the story.Incredibly, we were also helped by Aardmans amazing writer Finbar Hawkins to finesse the script and give authenticity to our ideas.Well Done, LadThe WASH LAD is all charged up and ready to assist you in your cleaning escapades, along with their very own industrial washer.Based on Wallaces existing LAD (Labor Assistant Device), that first appeared in Wallace & Gromits World of Invention, the WASH LAD has been adapted in a couple of different areas to better suit this niche task. From the original, we changed the arms to hinge at the elbows crucial to provide the elbow grease needed to slough off the muck in the pack. We switched out the wheels for legs, to give our WASH LAD the full range of motion to reach up, crouch down and clean every crevice.We created a brand-new character model for Wallace and Gromit, keeping as many elements from the original LAD character as possible, says Meek. This was then skinned to the PowerWash Simulator character rig, and a new set of animations were created to better match the LAD character, mainly focusing on making it feel more robotic than the PWS character.As you pilot WASH LADs stout and sturdy frame, youll notice a distinct height difference from the usual PowerWash Simulator character model, as well as the metallic sounds of the hydraulics powering the small bot. Its also particularly fun to team up with your friends to tackle the filth as a small robot army.Level Deep DiveBefore we all settle in front of the TV with some cheese and crackers, lets take a look at our inventive pals cosy home, starting with the Dining Room and Kitchen.Wallace & Gromits Dining Room & KitchenYoull be able to spot references from throughout the brands history and interact with moving elements such as the train set to immerse yourself within the action.The toy train was a challenge to set up animation for! says Meek, Washable objects in PowerWash Simulator cant use the standard animation set up so we had to devise a new system to animate the train and make sure all the carriages follow the train tracks smoothly with a spline curve. Hopefully players will have fun riding the toy train around the circuit!Wallace & Gromits HouseSoak up the serenity of sleepy British suburbs in this level, where youll hose down Wallace & Gromits quaint front garden and front faade of their classic two-up-two-down. Here, youll also walk in the pawprints of an icon as you stoop your way into Gromits kennel and have a snoop through his belongings, all in the name of cleaning, of course!As well as a couple of iconic inventions, like the Soccamatic and Shopper 13, you can also flip the pond to complete the driveway, just like in A Close Shave.The Knit-O-MaticThe Knit-O-Matics in a bit of a tangle, requiring some TLC (tender-loving-cleaning). Head down to the basement to scrub up the infamous contraption theres knot a moment to lose!Power up the goliath machine to give it a thorough service, and dont forget to check the technical (and-not-so technical) drawings!Meek adds: Animating washable items, like the Knit-O-Matic, really breathes life into the scene and adds an extra layer of detail for the players to have fun with!This lofty space is one to settle into, with high ceilings, heavy machinery and heaps of basement-dwelling odds and ends. When youre done, give yourself a round of applause by powering up the auto-wash machine! Pfft, automatic washing is over-rated!Wallace & Gromits VehiclesA rare rain-free day in the usually drizzly English climate can only mean one thing time to give the car a hose-down! Not one for normalcy, however, Wallaces collection of vehicles is far from your average hatch-back.Everything from the Snomanotron to the Top Bun bakery van is caked in filth, even the iconic Techno Trousers need some soapy assistance just dont put them through the wrong spin cycle!The Moon RocketRestore the Moon Rocket to its former brie-lliance in the final level of the pack. Covered in more than just stardust, the duos space craft has seen better days. Blast off the muck coating its bodywork, before venturing inside to revive the cosy cockpit.Oh, and theres also the aftermath of a certain extra-terrestrial picnic that could do with a quick spritz while youre up there.We hope youve enjoyed this access-all-areas look at our new Pack. See you at 62 West Wallaby Street for a cracking cleaning adventure Ill stick the kettle on!Xbox Game Pass members can play the base game,PowerWash Simulator,as part of their membership.ThePowerWash Simulatoris required to play).

Caf curtains are officially back! A one-time staple of country kitchens, especially in the 1950s, these short-and-sweet curtains have gotten a fresh look in the last few years. Trust us, these arent the same ruffly ones your aunt had in her quintessentially 90s kitchen. The patterns are fresher, the colors are bolder, and the uses are broader. Below, we break down what exactly caf curtains are, why theyre trending again, and how you can stylishly incorporate them into your own home, plus we share some of our favorite caf curtains (including hardware!) that you can shop for right here, right now.Jump to: What are Caf Curtains? Technically speaking, caf curtains are simple, half-height curtains designed to cover only the bottom half of a window. Unlike typical drapery, caf curtains are prized for their balance of light-filtering and privacy-providing. They date back to the 1800s, when European bistros embraced half-height curtains to let in light while allowing their coffee-sipping patrons to enjoy conversation in privacy. Their popularity in the United States began in the 1900s.RELATED:Are Caf Curtains in Style? Yes! Caf curtains are enjoying a resurgence thanks to renewed interest in breezy cottage style (see: cottagecore) and pattern-happy design trends (see: maximalism). The best part? Caf curtainswhen done righthave some serious staying power. They are simply timeless, says designer Cameron Ruppert. What Fabric is Used for Caf Curtains? Though caf curtains were once crafted from materials homemakers had on handtea towels, fabric remnants, lacemost modern iterations are made from linen and cotton fabrics that feel pretty-yet-practical thanks to dynamic patterns and a variety of pleating possibilities. While there are plenty of ready-made options, custom curtain makers such as Pepper Home and Everhem have also gained a cult following for their pieces, which are fabricated from designer-grade fabrics at direct-to-consumer prices. Where Can I Use Caf Curtains?Not just for kitchens anymore, cafe curtains can bring seclusion, softness, as well as a dose of pretty, to a variety of rooms. Below, we share some of designers favorite places to hang caf curtains and tips on how you can get the same look at home. In the Bathroom Bjrn WallanderDesigner Alison Newman settled on a cheery palette for this primary bathroom. In large bathrooms, caf curtains add privacy where you need it most. To level-up your design, pick stylish finishing details such as tab tops or pleats. In a pinch, rod-pockets will do just fine. RELATED:In the Bedroom Christopher HorwoodIn this patterened attic bedroom, designer Isabella Worsley chose simple, monochromatic fabrics to balance the space. Looking for even more privacy? Pair your caf curtains with relaxed Roman shades to create an elegant, layered look that offers double the coverage when you want it. Choose materials that contrast for a more statement-making display or stick to complementary styles that happily blend in. In the Pantry Helen CathcartBlue cabinets add a pop of cheerful color to this pantry designed by Isabella Worsley. Rustic red whipstitch-edged curtains prove that jams and jellies arent the only pantry staples you need. DIYd decorative edges, which can easily be done with some crafty ingenuity and a bit of ribbon or yarn, transform store-bought caf curtains into a wholly bespoke piece. RELATED:In the Powder Room Nathan Schroder PhotoghraphyLight-filtering curtains in this powder room from Collins Interiors ensure the small space still feels airy. Dont overlook the hardware! Opt for hardware that makes a statement. In this powder room, brass rods with French-style returns bring sophistication, as do pinch pleats.Related Story In the Breakfast NookStacy Zarin GoldbergTulip-printed fabric, Guermantes by Scalamandre, provides a permanent pop of spring in this breakfast nook designed by Cameron Ruppert.Have a classic white kitchen? Caf curtains are the perfect vehicle for pattern. Pick bold prints for added visual oomph and stick to classic graphicsthink ticking stripes and ginghamfor more of a farmhouse flair. RELATED:Shop Our PicksWeve scoured our favorite sources for the best caf curtain styles at the best prices. Below, check out our editor-approved caf curtains and the must-have hardware you need to bring the look to your home. Our Favorite FloralsBlockprint Caf Curtains$35 at Birch LaneFolksy Caf Curtains$39 at Urban OutfittersChinoiserie Caf Curtains$48 at AnthropologieMughal Flower Caf Curtain$23 at AmazonOur Favorite Graphic PatternsBold Stripe Caf Curtains$20 at AmazonPlaid Caf Curtains$80 at twopagescurtains.comGingham Caf Curtains$13 at TargetTicking Stripe Caf Curtains$15 at WalmartThe Must-Have HardwareFrench Return Rod$79 at Pottery Barn KidsFinial Rod$13 at AmazonBrass Curtain Clip$13 at AmazonBrass Tension Rod$55 at RejuvenationFor More Vintage Decor Ideas Making a Comeback:Anna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isnt working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!

Fintech startup Cino, a TNW community member, has secured 3.5mn for its shared payments app that lets friends and family pay together.Cino is designed for tech-savvy Gen Zers, who expect to split bills instantly and effortlessly together without financial awkwardness, the company said.Unlike payment request appslike Tikkie ubiquitous in the Netherlands Cino splits bills in real-time, so you dont have to chase down your mates to cough up on that exorbitant sushi bill you covered last week.Cino is available across the EU but, fuelled by fresh funding, the startup will now expand to the UK. Balderton Capital led the seed round, with participation from Connect Ventures, Tera Ventures, and angels including founder of Cleo AI Barney Hussey-Yeo.Cinos CEO Elena Churilova, a former product lead at Bumble, and COO Lina Saleh founded the startupin 2023 to reduce financial friction between friends and family. I realised that everyone was trying to solve the process of settling debt, instead of coming earlier, at the moment of payment, Churilova previously told TNW.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Cino users link their bank card to the app, where they get a virtual card. They can then create or join custom payment groups with fully adjustable split ratios. Everyones share is then deducted at checkout. Every payment appears in a shared group feed for total transparency, and users can hop in or out of groups anytime.Fintech has always been one-dimensional but we are social creatures, said Churilova. Our payments should reflect how we actually spend money together. Back in the cash days, it was simpler. Now that weve gone digital, payments need to evolve to keep up.Cino said it has seen 100% month-on-month growth in Finland and Italy. Groups use Cino 17 times a month on average, spending up to 3,000. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

The obscure world of quantum computing is emerging from the lab and into the public domain fuelled by Big Techs recent progress in quantum processors. In the past few months alone, Google launched a chip called Willow, Microsoft unveiled Majorana, and this week, Amazon revealed Ocelot.While tech giants are making great strides, these companies are still working in dozens of qubits far from the numbers needed for a practical quantum computer. QuantWare, a startup from the Netherlands, could help them unlock millions more.QuantWare claims to have created a 3D chip architecture that offers the fastest route to a 1-million qubit quantum computer and plans to sell it to Silicon Valley. We need to get to around a million qubits for a quantum computer capable of economically-relevant, world-changing calculations, said QuantWares co-founder and CEO Matthijs Rijlaarsdam. These would be large, megawatt-scale systems, comparable to todays AI clusters, he said.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!Qubits, like bits in a regular PC, are the basic units of information in a quantum computer. The more you have, the faster the machine.Even Google took five years to double the number of qubits on its chips from 50 to 100, said Rijlaarsdam. If this is the pace of scaling up, were not going to get there fast enough.Solving the quantum qubit conundrumOne of the biggest bottlenecks to scaling quantum computers is making room for more qubits.Current designs route the electronic signals used to control the qubits to the edge of the chip. But as qubit numbers grow, space runs out.Then youve got components like amplifiers, filters, and mixers that ensure signals are delivered with the right frequency, amplitude, and noise levels to perform accurate quantum calculations. In todays quantum computers, each component is housed on a separate chip in a separate metal box resulting in quantum computers growing too large too quickly.QuantWares core offering vertical integration and optimisation, or VIO promises to solve quantums scaling problem.The 3D chip architecture replaces edge-based wiring, allowing signals to travel from above, producing higher qubit densities. VIO also integrates bulky components like amplifiers and filters onto a single quantum processor or chip. In effect, it creates the quantum computing version of an integrated circuit in modern PCs.We provide the fastest path towards scaling towards a million qubit system, said Rijlaarsdam. And because VIO enables all those qubits to be integrated into one chip, it will be exponentially faster than a system made up of several chips connected together, he said.QuantWare cofounders Alessandro Bruno (left) and Matthijs Rijlaarsdam. Credit: QuantWareRijlaarsdam and Alessandro Bruno founded QuantWare in 2020 as a spinoff from TU Delft. The startup makes its own quantum chips and amplifiers, which are already found in quantum computers in 20 countries. It will use VIO to rapidly scale its processors. But it will also offer the technology to companies building their own quantum machines.Big Tech, big customersAs tech giants compete in the race to a viable quantum computer, QuantWare is positioning itself to cash in. The startup aims to become the quantum equivalent of what TSMC is to Apple or Microsoft in classical computing an enabler, not a competitor.Each Big Tech breakthrough reinforces QuantWares value proposition, said Rijlaarsdam.Quantum computing has transformed in recent years from a speculative moonshot into a technology poised to turbo-charge everything from drug discovery to cryptography. Last year, quantum technologies attracted over $49bn in public and private investment.Quantum computing is less now a science problem than an engineering problem, and it will quickly become an economic problem: how can we scale as quickly as possible? said Rijlaarsdam.Today, QuantWare raised 20mn in Series A funding to further develop VIO and build out its chip fabrication facilities. The round was co-led by Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund and Innovation Quarter. Job van der Voort, founder and CEO of Remote, also came on board as an angel investor.If QuantWares bet on 3D chip architecture pays off, it could offer a route to the million-qubit milestone needed to get quantum computers that truly change the world. The race is on.The next big thing in tech is one of three key themes at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Tickets for the event arenow on sale. To get 30% off, use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with