Channel 4 has struck a deal with Microsoft's Xbox to remake Swedish sci-fi drama Real Humans, the first time games a console maker has partnered with a UK broadcaster to co-fund a major series.

The deal is the latest sign of the digital shift in how TV shows are funded and watched, with Channel 4 to air the drama exclusively in the UK in 2015 at the same time as Microsoft makes the show available to Xbox owners across North America.

The eight part drama series, called Humans, will be produced by Kudos, maker of The Hour, Broadchurch and The Tunnel.

The series, based on the hit Swedish sci-fi drama about a family that buys a human-like robotic servant with a secret, has been created by Spooks writers Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley.

"This deal with Channel 4 and Kudos underscores Xbox Entertainment Studios' commitment to programming premium TV series with global partners and creating engaging interactive experiences," said Nancy Tellem, president of Microsoft's studio operation. "It sits alongside other original commissions, including a Halo TV series executive produced by Steven Spielberg."

"In Humans, Sam and Jon have not only crafted an ingenious and imaginative thriller, but they're also asking big, thought-provoking questions about how we live," said Piers Wenger, head of drama at Channel 4.

Filming of the drama series will begin in the summer with the show set to premiere next year.

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