The studio behind Xbox Series X exclusive The Medium is in acquisition talks

Bloober Team, the Polish studio behind Xbox Series X console exclusive The Medium, has entered merger and acquisition talks.

Stock exchange documents reveal that the publicly listed company has entered a second round of talks with “a dozen or so” companies, including three from the United States, two from Poland and one from the UK.

It’s not clear if the talks are for an acquisition or a sale of the company, however given Bloober’s relatively small size it’s likely to be the latter.

Bloober is an established horror game developer, having most recently put out the well-received Observer (2017) and last year’s Blair Witch game.

The developer’s next title, The Medium, is described as its most ambitious to date. Set for release for Xbox Series X and PC during the 2020 holiday season, The Medium sees players assume the role of Marianne, a medium living across the real and spirit worlds.

Bloober has said The Medium is inspired by Konami’s Silent Hill series of horror games, which is why it signed that series’ composer Akira Yamaoka to contribute music to the game.

Over the past two years Xbox has aggressively expanded its portfolio of first-party studios ahead of the release of Xbox Scarlett in 2020.

As well as setting up The Initiative and a new Age of Empires studio, Xbox has recently acquired Ninja Theory (Hellblade), Playground (Forza Horizon), Obsidian (Fallout: New Vegas), InXile (Wasteland 3) and Double Fine (Psychonauts 2).

In November 2019 Xbox Game Studios boss Matt Booty said this week claimed Xbox was “shifting focus” from studio acquisitions.