Turns Out You Can Run DOOM Even on an Apple HDMI Adapter

Running DOOM on unconventional hardware has become a popular pastime for enthusiasts. This time, a programmer known as NyanSatan managed to port the game to Apple's Lightning Digital AV Adapter, a device typically used to connect iPhones and iPads to external screens.

Surprisingly, this adapter isn’t just a simple “dongle” but a fully functional device with its own processor and a stripped-down version of iOS. It relies on a built-in SoC for video encoding, as the Lightning interface lacks the bandwidth to transmit HDMI signals directly. However, Apple’s locked-down firmware made hacking and porting DOOM a significant challenge.

To run the game, NyanSatan had to exploit the checkm8 vulnerability to gain access to the adapter’s system. According to the programmer, the device runs a heavily stripped-down version of iOS with only essential components like SecureROM, iBoot, and XNU. Instead of a traditional file system, it uses a statically compiled Mach-O binary. This unusual port once again proves that DOOM can be run on almost anything—even on peripheral accessories with extremely limited functionality.