Nintendo has recently released the NES Classic Edition, a $60 retro console that offers players video game nostalgia through its 30 preinstalled games from the original NES.
While the supply shortage of the device has caused immense frustration and has gamers worried that a similar problem could occur for the upcoming Nintendo Switch, the lucky ones who have been able to acquire a NES Classic Edition are likely already enjoying what the device has to offer.
Some gamers can try reliving the old glitches and exploits found in the titles featured in the NES Classic Edition, but for a Japanese hacker, he did something much more technical.
Linux On The NES Classic Edition
A Japanese hacker who goes by the username urandom has proved that the NES Classic Edition can be added to the list of devices that can run Linux, or more specifically, to the list of devices that can run your own Linux kernel.
It has been known that the NES Classic Edition runs on Linux, with a teardown on the device confirming that by revealing an Allwinner-powered Linux board. Nintendo has also followed open source license rules with its uploading of the retro console's source files.
It was not clear if it was possible to install your own Linux kernel into the device, but the Japanese hacker proved that it can be done.
In urandom's explanation for the process, he said that he used a serial-to-USB cable to power the console using U-Boot loader software. He then extracted the necessary files in FEL mode to be able to attach his own kernel.
It should be noted that the device that urandom used was the Famicom Mini, which is a version of the NES Classic Edition that is only sold in Japan. The two consoles are powered by the same motherboard, though, which should make the process possible on the NES Classic Edition as well.
What's Next For the NES Classic Edition?
With urandom showing that it was possible to run your own Linux kernel on the NES Classic Edition, the question is what would be next for the retro gaming console.
While the kernel is running on the NES Classic Edition, it seems that the options on what to do next are limited. Urandom does not look like he is looking to extracting the emulator files found in the console nor is he planning to add new game files into the system.
This is likely not the last time that a hacker tries to take over the NES Classic Edition, though, as running your own kernel on the console could be just the start of possible modifications coming to the system.
