The XM8 replaces the SG 552 in the hands: a one-piece polymer body with the sight block moulded into the carry rail and a round lens facing forward. Camouflage runs over the whole shell in orange, white and black patches, with the same pattern carried across the receiver, the raised sight housing and the stock. Small printed labels sit on the side of the sight block and above the magazine well, and the lower rail and grip stay dark and speckled.

The view model holds 5314 polygons on 48 bones and seven textures: four 512-wide sheets for the receiver, stock, sight and foregrip, plus separate maps for the glove, fingers and skin. Player and world models share the same four weapon sheets at 3925 polygons each. Animation covers idle, draw, reload and three firing takes, with a long 182-frame idle; there is no inspect take. Eleven sounds ship with it, two for the shot and nine for handling: bolt back and forward, magazine in and out, draw, safety and a magazine fiddle.