Hasselblad X2D 100C Medium Format Camera Runs Doom Game via Port

Image: Illustrative image · Hasselblad · Public domain · Source

Enthusiasts have successfully ported Doom to the Hasselblad X2D 100C medium format camera, demonstrating its unexpected hardware capabilities.

The Hasselblad X2D 100C, a flagship medium format camera released in 2022 and priced above $8,000, has been repurposed by enthusiasts to run the cult classic game Doom. Originally designed purely as a professional photographic device featuring a 100-megapixel sensor, the camera includes a 3.6-inch display and various physical controls. These features proved useful in adapting Doom to its hardware.

The port utilizes the Doomgeneric engine, a versatile engine designed for different platforms, allowing the game to operate effectively on the X2D 100C's hardware. Despite the camera not being intended for gaming, its processing power sufficiently supports Doom’s requirements, resulting in smooth performance.

This development is part of a broader tradition where hobbyists run Doom on unconventional devices, not primarily for gaming purposes but as a demonstration of technical creativity and the device's processing potential. The Hasselblad X2D 100C therefore joins an eclectic list of hardware unconventional for gaming on which Doom has been successfully run.

Though the camera remains a high-end photographic tool, this experiment highlights the versatility and processing strength of modern camera hardware beyond image capture capabilities. It also underscores a community interest in exploring the boundaries of device functionalities by porting classic software to new and unusual platforms.

No plans or practical uses for playing games on the Hasselblad camera are suggested by this port. Instead, it serves as a technical showcase and a novel nod to Doom’s iconic status in computing history.