Modified Nintendo GameCube Runs PowerPC Windows NT and Plays Doom

Earlier this month, an intriguing development came to light for tech and gaming enthusiasts: a fresh build of the obsolete Windows NT for PowerPC has been unexpectedly revived. This software, initially not designed for gaming, has been optimized for use with the Nintendo GameCube and Wii consoles. These platforms are ideal candidates due to their PowerPC architecture, which originally supported Windows NT PowerPC releases. This particular iteration, referred to as Entii for WorkCubes on GitHub, technically can run on the Wii U as well. However, it falls short of fully exploiting the console’s additional PowerPC cores, larger RAM, or more advanced AMD GPU, functioning only through the virtualized Wii mode. Early development boards are, at best, speculatively supported, with no testing to confirm.

For those fascinated by homebrew projects, the ability to run this Windows NT version on a Nintendo GameCube is captivating. YouTuber @emukid_id has captured this installation journey on video, demonstrating the setup process, some elementary operations, and even a playthrough of The Ultimate Doom in stunningly low 320 x 200 resolution. Unfortunately, these recordings don’t include any sound.

Despite the absence of sound, Windows 95 (as it functions in this environment) appears to deliver expected performance. Users can interact with classic Windows NT elements like 3D Maze screensavers and use applications such as Notepad. It even opens a basic Internet Explorer homepage, although functionality is highly limited in today’s web landscape. Remarkably, there are intelligent compatibility features that accommodate a variety of PC-like peripherals. This includes an innovative GameCube controller/keyboard hybrid which transforms the original controls into separate handles. Additionally, the typical USB ports on the Wii and Wii U significantly aid in extending device compatibility to USB peripherals.

It’s worth noting that certain compromises are inevitable. Even using a conventional Windows NT PC in today’s world would result in limited usability on modern websites, given the outmoded browser support. Although the GameCube and Wii’s Ethernet connectors may retain compatibility, their online application is quite restricted.

Despite these limitations, what remains is a fascinating glimpse into the capabilities of Windows NT and PowerPC before the Windows NT 3.5 era. The GameCube can still handle Doom, which is an impressive feat considering. The Wii effectively acts as an overclocked GameCube, boosting its performance with a next-gen GPU.

Greater support for Wii U with NT 3.5 or later Windows versions might unlock its full potential, leveraging its substantial 1GB of DDR3 RAM and triple-core PowerPC processor, unlike the single-core structure of the Wii and GameCube. The latter managed operation with a mere 24MB of system RAM, supplemented by dedicated RAM segments for video and input/output tasks.