As Microsoft's initial foray into the world of console video games, the Xbox was one impressive machine. Many compared it to a high-end PC - only at a fraction of the price. Weighing in at a hefty ten pounds, its large, black rectangular form housed a 10 GB hard disk - a first for a game console. The system also boasted four controller ports, support for high-definition video, and the best graphics of its generation.

While these graphics were only slightly better than those of the Playstation 2 (PS2), Xbox games exhibited faster load times, and the hard disk eliminated the need for expensive memory cards. The system could also play DVDs, but this was less of a selling point in 2001 than it was during the PS2 launch the year before. Initially the Xbox was shipped with extra-large controllers with rounded buttons, but after receiving numerous complaints, Microsoft quickly switched over to the "Controller-S" which more closely resembled the Playstation 2 controller design.