DOOM on – Misryoum reports how DOOM was made to run on a touch-screen travel router using Linux access, turning networking hardware into a handheld-style gaming device.
Turning a travel router into a mini gaming console might sound like a stunt, but Misryoum shows how the right hardware and access can make it surprisingly workable. In this case, DOOM is being run on a touchscreen travel router, aiming to combine routing duties with on-the-go entertainment.
The device in focus is a Slate 7 Pro travel router with a 2.8-inch touch display and enough onboard processing to manage typical networking and routing features through its WAN and WLAN connections.. Misryoum notes that the touch screen is central to the setup. because it allows you to view interface status and interact with the router without going through the usual web-based management flow.
The approach hinges on running a Linux-friendly DOOM port designed for framebuffer-style graphics.. Misryoum explains that the process starts by using SSH access to reach the router’s Linux-based firmware with root privileges. then configuring the DOOM port to use the same display pipeline and touch controls already being used by the device’s screen software.. Once the compiled game binary is transferred over, it can be launched like any other application.
This is where it gets interesting: touchscreen controls can be mapped in ways that feel workable. even if they are not quite as natural as dedicated gamepad inputs.. Misryoum points out that the current mapping can feel awkward. and it also raises the question of whether adding a proper input path. such as through a USB HID method. would make gameplay smoother.
For Misryoum, the broader takeaway is how quickly boundaries between categories are blurring.. With Linux-based firmware and deep access. hardware meant for connectivity can be repurposed into a general-purpose platform. similar in spirit to a handheld gaming device. just with routing still in the background.
In the end. projects like this matter less for replacing gaming hardware and more for highlighting what’s possible when you can run userland software. reuse existing display/input components. and repurpose networking gear beyond its original intent.. Misryoum’s coverage underscores that the real enabler is control: when a device is open enough, it becomes a canvas.