Microsoft details Xbox Originals TV shows for Xbox One

Microsoft has revealed the list of TV shows that will be airing exclusively on the Xbox One console as part of its Xbox Originals programme. With comedies, science fiction and reality shows all in the works, it looks as though Microsoft is finally preparing to square off with the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video.

When Microsoft first announced the Xbox One it revealed it had secured the talents of director Steven Spielberg to direct a live action Halo TV series, which will be produced in partnership with Xbox Halo developers 343 Industries, but it has now expanded on its plans for Xbox Originals.

Included in the initial line-up will be Every Street United, an unscripted talent search for football stars across United States, England, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, the Netherlands, Ghana and South Korea. Thierry Henry and Edgar Davids will host, as well as coach the players as they prepare for a 4v4 street soccer match in Rio de Janeiro during the World Cup.

A six-part documentary series called Signal to Noise will begin by exploring the history of Atari’s abandoned ET game in Atari: Game Over; part of the filming included digging up a New Mexico landfill to find the millions of unsold game cartridges dumped by Atari when the game failed to sell.

In case one Halo series wasn’t enough, 343 Industries will also develop a digital feature-length show, produced by Alien director Ridley Scott, which should arrive later this year.

Finally, a Channel 4-developed drama series called Humans will adapt the Swedish series Real Humans into English. According to Microsoft, Humans is “set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a ‘Synth’ – a highly-developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart.

“In the hope of transforming the way they live, one strained suburban family purchases a refurbished synth only to discover that sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences.”

Microsoft also has at least six other projects in development, but they are not expected to arrive until next year. These include Deadlands, an adventure series based on the Weird West – a pen and paper RPG that combines the Old West with zombies, wizards and steampunk, a stop motion show called Extraordinary Believers from the creators of Robot Chicken, and detective thriller Gun Machine.

Xbox Originals is expected to begin in June this year, for all Xbox One owners with an Xbox Live subscription.