Modified Nintendo GameCube Runs PowerPC Windows NT and Plays Doom

Earlier this month, an intriguing revival captured attention in the tech and gaming communities—a new build of the now-obsolete Windows NT for PowerPC surfaced. Fascinatingly, it has been optimized for the Nintendo GameCube and Wii consoles, recognizing their shared PowerPC architecture with the original Windows NT PowerPC editions. Dubbed Entii for WorkCubes and hosted on GitHub, this build even claims some level of Wii U support. However, it doesn’t fully exploit the Wii U’s additional PowerPC cores, larger RAM, or advanced AMD GPU; instead, it functions through the console’s virtualized Wii mode. As for the early developer boards, support remains theoretical at best and hasn’t been tested.

For those adventurous enough to explore this marriage of old and new, YouTuber @emukid_id provides a visual tour. His videos showcase the installation process, basic functionalities, and even a throwback to the pixelated days with 320 x 200 resolution gameplay of The Ultimate Doom. Curiously, the footage lacks sound, perhaps adding a nostalgic silence to this retro experience.

Despite the missing audio track, the Windows NT experience largely delivers what you’d expect. Users can indulge in classic features like configuring 3D wallpapers, using Notepad, or even loading up the basic Internet Explorer home page. Cleverly, the software taps into PC-like peripherals for the Nintendo platforms. Imagine a GameCube controller morphing into a keyboard, effectively separating the controls into wide-set handles. Plus, the standard USB ports on the Wii and Wii U promise added flexibility with USB peripherals.

However, engaging with this throwback doesn’t come without its limitations. Using a standard Windows NT PC in 2025 would leave you stranded with outdated web access, and even with potential functionality through GameCube or Wii Ethernet adapters, your online adventures would be quite limited.

Yet, this system offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Windows NT and PowerPC from days gone by, before the era of Windows NT 3.5. The fact that Doom is still playable on a GameCube is a remarkable feat. After all, the Wii essentially elevates the GameCube experience with a turbocharged CPU and a shiny new GPU.

Dreaming of the potential, one wonders how full Wii U support could elevate things with its expanded 1GB of DDR3 RAM and three PowerPC CPU cores, a significant leap from the Wii and GameCube’s single-core setup. While the GameCube operated with a humble 24MB of system RAM, bolstered by smaller dedicated allocations for video and other components, the possibilities for innovation remain exciting.