The original Xbox console, released by Microsoft in 2001, marked the company's entry into the gaming console market. It featured cutting-edge hardware for its time, including a powerful 733 MHz Intel Pentium III processor and an NVIDIA graphics processing unit. The console introduced innovative features such as built-in Ethernet connectivity for online gaming and a hard drive for storing game saves and downloadable content. The Xbox also launched with a robust lineup of games, including Halo: Combat Evolved, which became a flagship title for the platform. The console's large controller, known as the "Duke," was initially criticized for its size but later redesigned into the more compact "Controller S." Overall, the original Xbox made a significant impact on the gaming industry and laid the foundation for Microsoft's future consoles.