GoKawiilA short video has resurfaced in which Bill Gates promotes Windows 95 with DirectX as a gaming platform set to eclipse DOS. The video is part of footage from an internal Microsoft ‘Judgment Day’ developer/gaming event. So far, so ordinary, but the typically meek Gates appears dressed in a trench coat and holding a shotgun, standing inside a Doom-style environment littered with demon carcasses. You can watch the video by expanding the tweet below.
When Microsoft wanted people to take Windows 95 seriously for gaming, they used DOOM.They made a promo where Bill Gates appeared in a trench coat inside the game world.Microsoft basically used hell demons to sell Windows. pic.twitter.com/lb1ST6peqYMay 26, 2026
The Doom franchise began in 1993, well before Windows was widely used for games beyond the likes of Minesweeper and Solitaire desktop distractions. Throughout much of the 1990s, PC users would run games through DOS, with Windows seen as something to use for multitasking productivity tasks. With Windows 95, Microsoft wanted to change that; hence, this promotional video to developers, starring Gates himself.
Though there were (and are) DOS gaming devotees, Windows 95 was promoted as delivering improved multimedia, Plug and Play hardware support, and, with DirectX, even better gaming performance.
Latest Videos From
Gates begins his in-Doom spiel by saying that “these games are getting really realistic” before boasting that “Windows 95 is THE BEST game platform, whether it’s the best performance, the best setup, the best integration.” He then admitted that DOS can be hard work for end users, developers, and tech support. But the key improvement being dangled in front of developers was the new DirectX API.
During this brief presentation intro, Gates touted 75 new games coming for Windows 95 in the coming year. He reckoned with this push and collaboration between Microsoft and game developers, “we’ll be able to clean up this DOS mess, and get everything focused on Windows.”
This unusual video isn’t just Bill Gates standing and spouting about Windows 95 gaming, thankfully. Halfway through this clip, he is interrupted by an enemy grunt, and quickly turns to give it both barrels, “Don’t interrupt me.” But when delivering this punchline, Bill sounds more like Kermit the Frog than Arnie.
The video closes with Microsoft’s logo, some sinister laughing soundtrack, and the tagline “Who do you want to execute today?”
Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
... continue reading