Hardware Tycoon

Hardware Tycoon is a business simulation about building a technology company. You start in 1986 and guide it through four decades of computing innovation, reaching 2026. You design processors, manage production and staff, invest in research, and compete with rival companies for market share.

Design processors

You choose each CPU’s core count, clock speed, cache size and thermals, balancing performance against power efficiency and cost for different market segments. Your design decisions affect benchmarks, reviews and the company’s finances.

Run production

You can build and operate fabrication plants to manufacture your own chips. You can also produce CPUs under contract for rival companies to bring in revenue, while supplying competitors with products of their own.

Invest in research

You spend company funds on research projects to unlock manufacturing nodes, architectures and other technologies. You can pursue incremental improvements or take risks on new designs and technologies.

Manage your company

You hire engineers and managers, train and pay them, and work to keep them satisfied; competitors may poach your staff. You can also grow a modest office into a high-tech campus by buying, leasing or selling properties and building R&D labs and executive suites. Real estate decisions affect employee morale, productivity and company prestige.

Compete for the market

You track market trends, analyze rival products and time your releases. You can compete on price or performance for market share as technology changes across the decades.