Running Linux on the Wii?

Persistent but clever hackers have finally discovered how to circumvent the Nintendo Wii’s encryption safeguards, opening up the possibility of running 100% homebrew software on the little console.

Presented at the Chaos Communication Congress, users have found a completely unofficial way to run their own code on the console, reports Wired. The breakthrough means programmers could create their own open source programs to run on the Wii, even an entire operating system, like Linux.

According to media reports, the hack is not a simple plug-it-and-fix-it issue for Nintendo. A firmware update to block this would also require disabling the system’s backwards compatibility with the Gamecube.

A video from the Chaos Communication Congress can be found on Youtube.