Earlier this month, a rare build of the long-outdated Windows NT for PowerPC resurfaced, now adapted for a rather surprising platform: the Nintendo GameCube and Wii. This comes as both consoles use the PowerPC architecture, a nod to the original Windows NT PowerPC releases. Dubbed Entii for WorkCubes on GitHub, this build is also technically compatible with the Wii U. However, it doesn’t fully exploit the console’s additional PowerPC cores, larger RAM, or more advanced AMD GPU—functionality is only available through the virtualized Wii feature. As for early dev boards, they either lack support or remain theoretically compatible but untested.
For those homebrew enthusiasts eager to see how Windows NT fares on a Nintendo GameCube, YouTuber @emukid_id steps up with recorded footage. You can watch the Windows NT installation process, some basic functionality, and even some ultra-low-resolution gameplay of The Ultimate Doom at a mere 320 x 200 pixels. However, these clips come silent, leaving the audio aspect unexplored for now.
Despite the absence of sound, Windows 95 on this platform operates almost as expected. Users can enjoy setting up classic Windows NT 3D wallpapers like 3D Maze, use Notepad, and even launch a basic page on Internet Explorer. The system supports a variety of PC-like peripherals for Nintendo consoles, such as a GameCube controller modified with a full-size keyboard, transforming the original grips into extended handles. The regular USB ports on the Wii and Wii U open up further possibilities for USB peripheral connections.
While there are clear limitations, even a typical Windows NT PC user in 2025 might struggle to access functional web pages on today’s internet. This remains true if GameCube or Wii’s Ethernet adapters stay compatible—online utility seems to be quite restrictive.
Nevertheless, the system acts as a fascinating glimpse into Windows NT and PowerPC’s history, harking back to the days before Windows NT 3.5 offered PowerPC support. Impressively, Doom remains playable on the GameCube, showcasing its capability. The Wii, which essentially serves as a GameCube with an overclocked CPU and a new GPU, performs similarly well.
With proper implementation of NT 3.5 or a later Windows version, the Wii U could potentially show off its formidable 1GB of DDR3 RAM and three PowerPC CPU cores, a marked upgrade from the single-core designs of the Wii and GameCube. The GameCube itself managed with a modest 24MB of system RAM, plus additional small dedicated RAM for video and I/O tasks.
So while there are compromises, this project provides an intriguing time capsule of computing history and potential gaming innovation on Nintendo platforms.
