The original Xbox used DVD-ROM discs for its games.
Microsoft selected DVD-ROM as the game-disc format for the original Xbox, which launched in 2001. DVDs offered substantially more capacity than standard CDs, allowing developers to store larger game worlds, higher-quality audio, video sequences, and more extensive texture data.
The console used a standard internal optical drive for game software and also supported DVD-Video playback. A separate remote-control kit was required for DVD movie playback, because the original Xbox controller did not provide all of the controls needed for comfortable movie navigation.
DVD-ROM should not be confused with later optical formats used by Xbox systems. The Xbox 360 used DVD-based game discs, although Microsoft also offered an external HD DVD drive for movies. The Xbox One family introduced an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive in selected models, while the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition and Xbox Series S omitted an optical drive entirely.