Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release Date: January 28th, 2020
Genre: Horror
Price: $49.99 USD or free with Xbox Game Pass
Player(s): 1
Format: Digital
ESRB Rating: M
Developer: Bloober Team
Publisher: Bloober Team
Metacritic: ?
Opencritic: ?
OT BEST ENJOYED IN LIGHT MODE
CONTENT WARNING: Without delving into spoilers, there is a plot twist about 3-4 hours into the game, when you are placed in a wheelchair. It deals with subject material that is incredibly sensitive, and the handling of it appears to be quite divisive. The section as of writing is unskippable. It does further the plot but is hardly alluded to after, and nothing in great detail is shown. If you feel uncomfortable, my recommendation would be to turn off audio and subtitles and just play through the section, get a friend to play through it for you, or if need be retire the game.
The Medium is a third-person psychological horror game that features patented dual-reality gameplay and an original soundtrack co-composed by Arkadiusz Reikowski and Akira Yamaoka.
Wield unique psychic abilities reserved for those with the gift. Travel between the realities or explore them both at the very same time. Use the Out of Body experience to investigate places where your real-world self can't go. Create energy shields and deliver powerful spirit blasts to survive the spirit world and its otherworldly dangers.
Delve deep into a mature and morally ambiguous story, where nothing is what it seems and everything has another side. As a medium you see, hear and experience more than others, and with every new perspective you will change your perception on what happened at the Niwa resort.
Never-seen-before and officially patented gameplay that plays out across two worlds displayed at the same time. Explore the physical world and the spirit world simultaneously, and use the interactions between them to solve dual-reality puzzles, unlock new paths, and awaken memories of past events.
The Medium's spirit world is a dark mirror reflection of our reality, a grim and unsettling place where our unpunished deeds, evil urges, and vile secrets manifest themselves and can take on a form. This world has been invented and designed under the inspiration of Zdzisław Beksiński's paintings, Polish dystopian surrealist internationally recognized for his distinctive and strikingly ominous style.
Immerse yourself in the disturbing and oppressive atmosphere of the game thanks to the original 'dual' soundtrack co-created by Akira Yamaoka and Arkadiusz Reikowski. Yamaoka-san is a legendary Japanese composer best known for his work on the Silent Hill series; Reikowski is a Hollywood Music in Media Awards nominee who worked on such acclaimed horror games as Blair Witch, Layers of Fear, and Observer. Now they join their creative forces for the music and songs of The Medium.
Q: What is this game?
A: The latest horror game from Bloober Team, developers of >Observer, Blair Witch and the Layers of Fear Series.
Q: Is it coming to PS5?
A: Bloober Team currently has no stated plans to bring the game to PS5, as their focus is on the Xbox Ecosystem platforms (Series X|S and PC) but it may come at a later date.
Q: Is it on Xbox One?
A: No. The Medium is a next-gen title that pushes the limits of the new hardware, and thus will not be on Xbox One.
Q: Is it coming to XCloud?
A: As of writing, XCloud's consumer-facing server blades are based on Xbox One SOCs so no. However, when the server blades are switched to Series X hardware, a port cannot be ruled out.
Q: Is this game coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one?
A: Yes! However, not every Bloober Team title has stayed on the service in perpetuity so be sure to enjoy sooner rather than later.
Q: What is the performance of the game?
A: 4K 30fps on Series X and 1080p 30fps on Series S, variable on PC. Raytracing on both Xbox platforms.
Q: When does the review embargo lift?
A: January 27th at 9am EST.
Q: What are the system requirements on PC?
A:
Minimum settings
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 (64bit version only)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-6600 / AMD Ryzen™ 5 2500X
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: @1080p NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1060 6GB / AMD Radeon™ R9 390X (or equivalent with 4 GB VRAM)
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 30 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible, headphones recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 (64bit version only)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-9600 / AMD Ryzen™ 7 3700X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: @1080p NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti / Radeon™ RX Vega 56 | @4K NVIDIA GeForce® RTX 2070 / Radeon™ RX 5700 XT
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 30 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible, headphones recommended
- Additional Notes: NVIDIA GeForce® RTX 2080 for 4K with ray tracing on.
You've only seen half so far • The Medium (themediumgame.com)
The Medium | Xbox
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Thanks to Bloober Team for the gifs and text, and Dancrane212 for the logo. Apologies for imperfect background removal on the last two headers. I made them by scratch and don't have great editing software.
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