Earlier this month, an intriguing discovery was made in the world of retro tech: a new build of the obsolete Windows NT for PowerPC emerged. This version, reimagined for the Nintendo GameCube and Wii consoles, capitalizes on their PowerPC architecture, which was supported back in the original Windows NT PowerPC releases. Named Entii for WorkCubes and available on GitHub, it can technically run on the Wii U. However, it doesn’t leverage its additional PowerPC cores, larger RAM, or more powerful AMD GPU, functioning only through the virtual Wii feature. As it stands, early development boards aren’t supported, or at least haven’t been tested, even though they might theoretically work.
For those hobbyists eager to see Windows NT in action on the GameCube, YouTuber @emukid_id provides a fascinating glimpse. They’ve recorded the installation process, basic usage, and even showcased some impressive yet ultra-low resolution (320 x 200!) gameplay of The Ultimate Doom. While these videos currently lack sound, they offer a compelling look at this unique software experience.
Despite the absence of audio, Windows 95 seems to operate mainly as one would expect. Users can configure classic Windows NT 3D wallpapers like the iconic 3D Maze, play around with Notepad, open the Internet Explorer home page, and even experiment with a variety of peripherals more akin to PCs. Notably, one setup has transformed a GameCube controller by integrating a full-sized keyboard in the middle, essentially turning the game controller into an adaptable device with two separate grips. The availability of USB ports on the Wii and Wii U further supports compatibility with additional USB peripherals.
There are, of course, limitations to this endeavor. Despite the intact compatibility with GameCube or Wii Ethernet adapters, connecting to web pages on the modern Internet is practically futile for a machine running such outdated software. The possibilities for online use are exceedingly narrow.
Nevertheless, this system serves as a fascinating snapshot of what Windows NT and PowerPC offered during the early days of PowerPC support on Windows, before Windows NT 3.5. Impressively, Doom remains playable on the GameCube—a feat in itself. With the Wii being essentially an overclocked GameCube with upgraded graphics, it continues this legacy.
If Windows NT 3.5 or newer were to be adapted for full Wii U support, it could significantly enhance the experience by taking advantage of its 1GB of DDR3 RAM and triple PowerPC CPU cores—quite a leap from the single-core design and mere 24MB of system RAM that equipped the GameCube. That amount of RAM, though small, was complemented by additional allocations dedicated to video and input/output operations.
