Nintendo GameCube Transformed to Run PowerPC Windows NT and Play Doom

Earlier this month, an unexpected discovery emerged with a never-before-seen version of the outdated Windows NT for PowerPC. Surprisingly, this build has been tailored for the Nintendo GameCube and Wii consoles, courtesy of their shared PowerPC architecture, which was initially supported by the original Windows NT releases. Enthusiasts have dubbed this iteration Entii for WorkCubes, and it’s available on GitHub. There’s mention of potential support for the Wii U as well, but it’s somewhat limited. It doesn’t fully utilize the Wii U’s additional PowerPC cores, increased RAM, or its advanced AMD GPU; instead, it operates within the virtualized Wii environment. As for older development boards, their compatibility is uncertain—either not supported at all or merely theoretical, lacking any real testing.

For those who love tinkering with homebrew projects and wish to see Windows NT in action on a Nintendo GameCube, YouTuber @emukid_id has shared a captivating video. The footage showcases the Windows NT installation, some fundamental operations, and even a glimpse of The Ultimate Doom gameplay, albeit at a resolution of just 320 x 200! Although these clips lack audio, they do provide an intriguing peek into the software’s functionality.

Even without sound, Windows 95 seems to perform quite smoothly, with classic features like configuring the iconic 3D Maze wallpaper, using Notepad, and opening a basic page on Internet Explorer. Remarkably, it offers intelligent support for various PC-related peripherals adapted for use with Nintendo consoles. For example, there’s a GameCube controller with an integrated full-sized keyboard, transforming the original design into an innovative hybrid. And thanks to the standard USB ports on the Wii and Wii U, users can easily expand their peripheral compatibility.

It’s worth noting, though, that using this system comes with compromises. Even if you were running a contemporary Windows NT PC today, accessing the modern Internet would be challenging. While compatibility with GameCube or Wii’s Ethernet adapters might hold up, realistic online productivity would be extremely limited.

Despite these hurdles, the system serves as a fascinating reflection on the era of Windows NT and PowerPC, harking back to the days before Windows NT 3.5. Impressively, Doom is playable on the GameCube, effectively transforming it into a Cpu-overclocked unit similar to its successor, the Wii, with its enhanced GPU.

If proper support for NT 3.5 or newer Windows versions arrives for the Wii U, it could harness the console’s robust specs, including 1GB of DDR3 RAM and its powerful triple PowerPC CPU cores—an upgrade from the single-core setup found in the Wii and GameCube. Meanwhile, the GameCube operated on just 24MB of system RAM, supplemented by smaller dedicated RAM reserves for video and I/O components.