Today marks the 10th anniversary of *Bloodborne*, and fans are celebrating by organizing another "Return to Yharnam" community event. FromSoftware's PlayStation 4 masterpiece, launched on March 24, 2015, not only solidified the Japanese developer's reputation as one of the greatest in the industry but also garnered critical and commercial success. Given its acclaim, a follow-up akin to the Dark Souls sequels seemed inevitable. However, a decade later, there has been no current-gen remaster, sequel, or even a next-gen update to bring *Bloodborne* to 60fps. Fans have been vocal about their desire for more *Bloodborne* content, yet Sony's silence on the matter remains one of the most perplexing decisions in gaming.
Earlier this year, some insight into this situation was provided by Shuhei Yoshida, a PlayStation legend, following his departure from Sony. In an interview with Kinda Funny Games, Yoshida shared his personal theory on the lack of *Bloodborne* updates, emphasizing that it was not based on insider information. He stated, "Bloodborne has always been the most asked thing... And people wonder why we haven’t really done anything, even an update or a remaster. Should be easy, right? The company is known for doing so many remasters, right, some people get frustrated."Yoshida's theory revolves around Hidetaka Miyazaki, the head of FromSoftware and the creator of Bloodborne. He suggested that Miyazaki's deep attachment to the game, combined with his busy schedule managing multiple successful projects, might be the reason behind the lack of updates. Yoshida speculated, "I think he is interested, but he’s so successful and he’s so busy, so he doesn’t want, he cannot do himself, but he does not want anyone else to touch it. So that’s my theory. And the PlayStation team respect his wish."
Miyazaki's success is undeniable, with the influential Dark Souls series and the recent mainstream hit Elden Ring, which is even getting a multiplayer spin-off this year. Since Bloodborne, Miyazaki has directed Dark Souls 3, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Elden Ring, leaving fans wondering what his next project will be. In interviews, Miyazaki often avoids questions about Bloodborne, citing that FromSoftware does not own the IP. However, he did acknowledge last year that the game could benefit from a release on more modern hardware.
In the absence of official updates, modders have stepped in to enhance the Bloodborne experience. However, Sony has not been supportive of these efforts. For instance, Lance McDonald, creator of a well-known 60fps mod for Bloodborne, received a takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment four years after the mod's release. Similarly, Lilith Walther, behind projects like Nightmare Kart and the Bloodborne PSX demake, faced a copyright claim on an old YouTube video.
Recently, fans have utilized PS4 emulators to achieve a near-remaster experience on PC. Digital Foundry highlighted a breakthrough in PS4 emulation via ShadPS4, allowing Bloodborne to be played at 60fps from start to finish. This development might have prompted Sony's aggressive response, though Sony has not commented on the matter when approached by IGN.
With no official updates forthcoming, Bloodborne fans have taken matters into their own hands, organizing community events like the "Return to Yharnam" initiative. On this 10th anniversary, fans are encouraged to create new characters, summon as many random cooperators and invaders as possible, and leave in-game messages to signify their participation in this community drive. As it stands, these fan-led events might be the only way for the Bloodborne community to keep the spirit of the game alive.
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