Nintendo GameCube Transformed to Operate PowerPC Windows NT and Play Doom

Earlier this month, an intriguing new version of the now-obsolete Windows NT for PowerPC unexpectedly made an appearance. Remarkably, it’s been optimized for use on Nintendo’s GameCube and Wii consoles. This is all thanks to these platforms leveraging the PowerPC architecture that was originally compatible with Windows NT PowerPC releases. The project, humorously titled Entii for WorkCubes on GitHub, even extends its reach to the Wii U, though it doesn’t take full advantage of the Wii U’s enhanced capabilities like its twin extra PowerPC cores, increased memory, or the beefier AMD GPU. Essentially, it operates via the Wii’s virtual functions, and as for early development boards, their support ranges from nonexistent to untested “theoretical” support.

For the homebrew community eager to see Windows NT in action on a GameCube, YouTuber @emukid_id has shared some fascinating footage. He showcases the installation process, basic operations, and even some impressively nostalgic gameplay of The Ultimate Doom running at a mere 320 x 200 resolution. Just a heads-up, there’s no audio in these clips.

Despite the missing sound, Windows 95 seems to chug along just fine. It’s capable of setting up those nostalgic Windows NT 3D wallpapers like the 3D Maze or running classic apps such as Notepad and even the basic Internet Explorer homepage. Thanks to some innovative peripheral support, users can navigate these tasks with more PC-like input devices compatible with Nintendo consoles. Picture using a GameCube controller that has a keyboard nestled snugly in its center, transforming the original controller grips into more distant handles. Plus, the ordinary USB ports on the Wii and Wii U open up additional avenues for connecting USB peripherals.

Now, there are definitely some limitations here. In 2025, even if someone were using a typical Windows NT PC, they’d struggle to access usable web pages on today’s Internet, regardless of working Ethernet adapters on GameCube or Wii. The online possibilities remain quite narrow.

What this project does offer is a cool throwback to the era of Windows NT on PowerPC, akin to the pre-NT 3.5 days. And yes, it’s no small feat that Doom is still playable on a GameCube! The Wii, in essence, is a GameCube with a CPU that’s a tad faster and a swapped-out GPU.

Achieving proper Wii U support for NT 3.5 or later could significantly boost capabilities, with potential access to a whole gigabyte of DDR3 RAM and three PowerPC CPU cores instead of the single-core setup seen in the Wii and GameCube. Let’s not forget, the GameCube operated with just 24MB of system RAM, alongside minor dedicated RAM allocations for components like video and I/O.

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