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Xbox One original TV shows will include interactive extras

A robot-themed sci-fi show and a reality show for this summer's World Cup are among the original programmes coming to the Xbox One, complete with bonus interactive elements.

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
Richard Trenholm
2 min read

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Swedish sci-fi show Äkta människor is being remade for the Xbox. SVT and Matador Films
New TV shows made specially for the Microsoft Xbox One will include bonus features accessed through the console. The first six series to be made by Microsoft for the console include comedy sketch shows from Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera and Seth Green, a sci-fi show about robots called Humans -- based on Swedish programme "Äkta människor", pictured above -- and a street football reality show called "Every Street United" to coincide with this summer's Brazilian World Cup.

The Xbox family album (pictures)

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The twist is that the new shows will be specifically designed to be enjoyed on the Xbox thanks to extra interactive elements: viewers can use their console to unlock bonus scenes, mini-games and subplots not featured in the actual show itself.

In launching the Xbox One, Microsoft is keen to expand the remit of the traditional games console, becoming an all-in-one box that integrates with your TV and takes over your living room.

Watch this: Microsoft Xbox One hands-on

New content is a big part of that, although new shows are reported to be aimed at the console's existing core audience of gamers aged between 18 and 34, rather than trying to entice non-gamers. Bloomberg reports that Microsoft has more than a dozen projects in development. Other forthcoming programmes include reality show "Fearless", following Australian Navy diver and shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder, and a documentary series from the people who went "Searching for Sugar Man".

Steven Spielberg's planned "Halo" show is also on the Microsoft slate, and I'm guessing a recently-announced "="" movie="" involving="" ridley="" scott"="" shortcode="link" asset-type="article" uuid="44fa7ebd-485c-427b-b6c0-ff008cbe367b" slug="ridley-scott-is-master-chief-of-halo-digital-feature" link-text="" section="news" title="Ridley Scott is Master Chief of Halo 'digital feature'" edition="us" data-key="link_bulk_key" api="{"id":"44fa7ebd-485c-427b-b6c0-ff008cbe367b","slug":"ridley-scott-is-master-chief-of-halo-digital-feature","contentType":null,"edition":"us","topic":{"slug":"video-games"},"metaData":{"typeTitle":null,"hubTopicPathString":"Tech^Services and Software^Video Games","reviewType":null},"section":"news"}"> could in there somewhere too.

There's plenty of competition for Microsoft: Sony is also working on its own shows for rival console the PlayStation 4 , starting with an adaptation of ""="" shortcode="link" asset-type="article" uuid="ab5758eb-b0a3-11e3-a24e-d4ae52e62bcc" slug="marvels-powers-comic-to-be-sonys-first-ps4-tv-show" link-text="Marvel-owned comic " section="news" title="Marvel's 'Powers' comic to be Sony's first PS4 TV show" edition="us" data-key="link_bulk_key" api="{"id":"ab5758eb-b0a3-11e3-a24e-d4ae52e62bcc","slug":"marvels-powers-comic-to-be-sonys-first-ps4-tv-show","contentType":null,"edition":"us","topic":{"slug":"home-entertainment"},"metaData":{"typeTitle":null,"hubTopicPathString":"Home Entertainment","reviewType":null},"section":"news"}"> . Meanwhile Netflix continues to go from to strength to strength with original shows like ""="" shortcode="link" asset-type="article" uuid="df876c0c-a59e-11e3-a24e-d4ae52e62bcc" slug="house-of-cards-star-spacey-dreams-of-no-cliff-hangers-no-spoilers" link-text="" section="news" title="House of Cards star Spacey dreams of 'no cliff-hangers, no spoilers'" edition="us" data-key="link_bulk_key" api="{"id":"df876c0c-a59e-11e3-a24e-d4ae52e62bcc","slug":"house-of-cards-star-spacey-dreams-of-no-cliff-hangers-no-spoilers","contentType":null,"edition":"us","topic":{"slug":"home-entertainment"},"metaData":{"typeTitle":null,"hubTopicPathString":"Home Entertainment","reviewType":null},"section":"news"}"> , ""="" shortcode="link" asset-type="article" uuid="9861a986-83e9-11e3-86d7-14feb5ca9861" slug="orange-is-the-new-black-headed-to-netflix-worldwide-this-july" link-text="" section="news" title="Orange is the New Black headed to Netflix worldwide this July" edition="us" data-key="link_bulk_key" api="{"id":"9861a986-83e9-11e3-86d7-14feb5ca9861","slug":"orange-is-the-new-black-headed-to-netflix-worldwide-this-july","contentType":null,"edition":"us","topic":{"slug":"home-entertainment"},"metaData":{"typeTitle":null,"hubTopicPathString":"Home Entertainment","reviewType":null},"section":"news"}"> , and an ambitious plan for four Marvel comics-based TV series. Yahoo is getting into the original content game too, and just last week Amazon revealed Fire TV , which will show off original programming from Amazon Studios.