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Ever wanted to play The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind on a dual-screen handheld? Well, now you can – if you don’t mind putting in some legwork
The Elder Scrolls Morrowind fan community has found new ways to play the 25-year-old RPG on dual-screen handheld devices, despite The Elder Scrolls 6 remaining far from release. A modder called Josh Daniels has released a public build of OpenMW-DS, an adaptation of the open-source OpenMW engine that lets Morrowind's menus and inventory screens run on a second screen, Nintendo DS-style, on Android-based handhelds.
The mod is built for the AYN Thor handheld and relies on the OpenMW Android port, requiring users to already own a PC copy of Morrowind, as neither OpenMW nor the mod supply the game itself. Installation involves a modest amount of technical know-how, including moving files on the device, with a guide provided alongside the release. Separately, another user on Reddit's r/Morrowind, FirefighterTrick6476, is working on an actual Nintendo DS port, having implemented basic scripting and second-screen UI elements for the inventory, map, journal and character stats, though the project's completion remains uncertain given the console's hardware limitations.
In short
- Modder released OpenMW-DS, running Morrowind's menus on a second screen
- Built for the Android-based AYN Thor handheld; requires a PC copy of the game
- A separate fan project aims for an actual Nintendo DS port of Morrowind
Explained simply
The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind is a fantasy role-playing game from over two decades ago that is played by a dedicated group of fans. With the next official Elder Scrolls release not yet announced, players continue to find new ways to experience Morrowind through modifications and adaptations. The game continues to have an active community.
Members of the Morrowind fan community have developed ways to play the game on dual-screen handheld devices, adapting an open-source engine to split the game's menus across two displays in the style of Nintendo DS games. These projects require players to own the original PC version and use specialised handheld hardware, with installation requiring some technical knowledge. Other fans are also working on bringing Morrowind to actual Nintendo DS systems, though the console's technical limitations present challenges.
These efforts demonstrate how gaming communities continue to engage with older titles through technical adaptation. By reimagining how Morrowind can be played, fans extend the game's use decades after its original release, even as the gaming industry develops new games.