You can now play Doom on a Canon DSLR camera — here's how it works

A developer known as Lauris-nl has successfully ported the classic first-person shooter Doom to the Canon EOS 550D digital SLR camera, also marketed as the Rebel T2i. The project was shared on GitHub, adding another unlikely device to the long list of gadgets capable of running the iconic 1993 game.

The port runs as a module within the open-source Magic Lantern firmware, which replaces Canon's stock operating system on compatible cameras. The EOS 550D, originally released in 2010, uses an image processor that proves powerful enough to render Doom at a smooth, playable frame rate. Lauris-nl adapted the camera's physical controls for gameplay: the directional pad handles movement in four directions, the Set button acts as both "select" and "fire," and the Menu button opens the in-game menu. The result is a surprisingly functional control scheme that requires no external hardware.

However, the developer warns that this build is strictly for the Canon EOS 550D running firmware version 1.0.9. Installing it on any other camera model or using a different version of Canon's official firmware could cause serious damage to the device. The port is not intended for general distribution across the Magic Lantern ecosystem.

Doom has been ported to an extraordinary range of hardware over the years, including lawnmowers, pregnancy tests, ATMs, and even a Lego brick. The DSLR version stands out because it uses only the camera's built-in controls and a custom firmware replacement — no additional buttons, screens, or external computers are needed. The project demonstrates both the flexibility of the Magic Lantern platform and the surprising computational power of older digital cameras.

For those who happen to own a Canon EOS 550D and are willing to take the risk, the source code and installation instructions are available on Lauris-nl's GitHub page. The developer notes that the port is a proof of concept rather than a polished product, but early testers report that the game runs smoothly and is fully playable from start to finish.