Developer gets Windows 95 working on Nintendo 3DS

Someone managed to install Windows 95 and get it working on a Nintendo 3DS. Because the necessary code has been put online, it is also possible for others to put the operating system on the handheld.

A video shows Windows 95 starting up on the handheld gaming console. This was put online by a user with the pseudonym shutterbug2000. In a forum thread on GBA Temp, he explains what he’s done to get the operating system up and running; because he has put the necessary code on GitHub, it is also possible for others to install the OS on the Nintendo 3DS.

Several users have confirmed that the uploaded code makes it possible to run Windows 95 on Nintendo 3DS. The software does suffer from performance problems, such as low frame rates. It is also not yet possible to use the touchscreen, which makes operation difficult.

It is likely that the implementation of Windows 95 on the Nintendo 3DS will be improved in the future. On the GBA Temp forum, developers talk about writing emulators to play PC games on the handheld. It remains to be seen to what extent these plans are viable.