How Enterprising Modders Installed Windows NT On Nintendo GameCubes

Typically, consoles are modded to increase their functionality, such as the decade-old mod that grants GameCube controller functionality to the 3DS . However, the collaborative (and competitive) spirit within modding communities often turns the hobby towards experimentation, pushing consoles to their limits (with classic Doom usually becoming involved at some point). A recent example of this has been the efforts to bring Windows NT 4.0 to the GameCube, which revolves around the groundwork of Entii for Workcubes on GitHub and has most recently seen prominence with a video on the modding process by Jiga Tech .

Of course, it's another thing entirely to see this type of modding in action. This is where YouTube creator emu_kidid got the ball rolling in February of 2025, with a video that demonstrates the software-side process of getting this build of Windows running on GameCube. Now in 2026, both Jiga Tech and Michael MJD have videos with a large focus on the hardware installation. This process involves removing the disc drive and installing the mod drive beneath, before inserting an SD card trojan-horsed through a GameCube memory card and continuing with the software installation. Both manage to get the system running, with Michael MJD playing some "Solitaire" on the machine while Jiga Tech manages to integrate functionality for both the ASCII GameCube keyboard controller and, to an extent, the DK Bongo controller.

Indeed, the use of these older consoles is impressive in its own right, but it's also indicative of how much Nintendo is fighting modding on newer consoles. While every company outfits their current consoles with measures to prevent major modification, Nintendo's litigious streak has given it quite the reputation in the community — and has driven modders to focus on older machines. As conversations around tech ownership and game preservation continue to heat up, advancements like this Windows NT mod will likely set the stage for bigger things, allowing those looking to assert their own control over the tech they own to get more power from older hardware.