Nintendo GameCube Transformed to Run PowerPC Windows NT and Doom

Earlier this month, an intriguing new development caught the attention of tech enthusiasts: a fresh build of the long-discontinued Windows NT designed for PowerPC systems emerged. Amazingly, it’s now optimized for use on the Nintendo GameCube and Wii consoles. These consoles are a fitting choice, given their reliance on the PowerPC architecture that was originally supported by Windows NT. Named Entii for WorkCubes on GitHub, this version technically extends support to the Wii U as well, but it doesn’t tap into the advanced capabilities of the console, such as the extra PowerPC cores, expanded memory, or enhanced AMD GPU. Instead, it operates through the Wii’s virtualization feature. Early development boards are either not supported or are theoretically supported without testing.

For those who love tinkering with homebrew projects, especially on the GameCube, a YouTuber known as @emukid_id has provided an intriguing glimpse into the Windows NT installation process on this hardware. He’s shared footage showing the setup, some basic functionality, and even a nostalgic moment with incredibly low-resolution gameplay of The Ultimate Doom. However, sound is noticeably absent in these walkthroughs.

Despite the lack of audio, the experience with Windows NT largely lives up to expectations. The classic Windows NT 3D screensavers like 3D Maze, Notepad, and even the simple Internet Explorer homepage function reasonably well. The system intriguingly supports a variety of peripherals—like GameCube controllers modified with built-in full-sized keyboards. This turns the controllers into handles separated by the typing surface. The existing USB ports on the Wii and Wii U also open doors for a broad range of USB peripherals, enhancing user interaction.

There’s a trade-off here, though. Even if someone managed to run a standard Windows NT PC today in 2025, they’d struggle with finding compatible webpages in the modern digital landscape. Even with Ethernet adapters for the GameCube or Wii functioning, the online potential seems very constrained.

Nevertheless, this setup beautifully captures a snapshot of Windows NT and PowerPC from the era before Windows NT 3.5 became available for PowerPC. Impressively, Doom remains playable on the GameCube. When it comes to hardware comparison, the Wii is simply a more advanced version of the GameCube, benefiting from a better GPU and slightly more processing power.

True support for NT 3.5 or a later Windows version on the Wii U could significantly boost performance. Thanks to its substantial 1GB of DDR3 RAM and triple-core PowerPC setup, the Wii U could modulate a stark difference compared to the single-core, 24MB RAM system of the GameCube. The GameCube did manage to allocate small dedicated RAM structures for video and I/O functions, but the potential for future enhancements with newer consoles is promising.