The Bloodborne PSX demake, a fan project inspired by the iconic game, has recently encountered a copyright claim, following in the footsteps of the Bloodborne 60fps mod which faced a similar fate last week. Lance McDonald, the creator behind the well-known Bloodborne 60fps mod, revealed that he received a takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment, compelling him to remove links to his patch from the internet. This action came four years after the mod's initial release.
Lilith Walther, the creative force behind Nightmare Kart (formerly Bloodborne Kart) and the visually striking Bloodborne PSX demake, shared on Twitter that a YouTube video showcasing the demake was hit with a copyright claim by MarkScan Enforcement. McDonald further clarified that MarkScan is a company hired by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the same entity responsible for the DMCA takedown of his 60fps patch. He expressed his confusion and frustration over these actions, questioning Sony's motives.
Bloodborne, developed by FromSoftware, is a highly acclaimed title that launched on the PS4, but since its release, Sony has not revisited the game. Fans have been vocal about their desire for a next-gen patch to boost the game's frame rate to 60fps from its current 30fps, alongside requests for a remaster or a sequel. Recent advancements in PS4 emulation, highlighted by Digital Foundry's coverage of the ShadPS4 emulator, have enabled Bloodborne to be played at 60fps on PC. This breakthrough might have prompted Sony's aggressive stance, though the company has not yet responded to IGN's request for comment.
In response to these developments, McDonald proposed a "copium theory," suggesting that Sony's actions might be clearing the way for an official 60fps remake announcement. He speculated that Sony could be aiming to trademark terms like "bloodborne 60fps" and "Bloodborne remake," necessitating the removal of fan projects to avoid trademark conflicts. Despite these speculations, there has been no official indication from Sony about revisiting Bloodborne.
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida offered his perspective on Bloodborne's lack of updates or remasters in an interview with Kinda Funny Games. He theorized that FromSoftware's Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game's creator, might be too busy with other projects to oversee a remaster himself and is protective of the game, not wanting others to work on it. Yoshida suggested that PlayStation respects Miyazaki's wishes, which could explain the game's dormancy nearly a decade after its release.
While Miyazaki has often sidestepped questions about Bloodborne's future, pointing out that FromSoftware does not own the IP, he did acknowledge in an interview last year that the game could benefit from being released on more modern hardware. This leaves fans hopeful, yet uncertain about the future of this beloved game.
