The creator of the highly acclaimed Bloodborne 60fps patch, Lance McDonald, has recently announced that he received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. In a tweet, McDonald revealed that he was asked to remove all links to the patch he had shared online, and he complied with the request. He also pointed to a YouTube video he uploaded in 2021 about the patch, and shared a light-hearted anecdote about a meeting with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, where he mentioned creating the 60fps mod for Bloodborne. Yoshida's amused reaction highlighted the community's interest and efforts in enhancing the game.
Bloodborne, a critically and commercially successful title developed by FromSoftware, remains a topic of fervent discussion among fans. Since its launch on the PS4, there has been a noticeable absence of official updates from Sony, including a much-desired 60fps patch, remaster, or sequel. This void has been partially filled by community efforts like those of McDonald. Additionally, recent advancements in PS4 emulation technology, showcased by Digital Foundry's coverage of the ShadPS4 emulator, have enabled players to experience Bloodborne at 60fps on PC. This development may have prompted Sony's aggressive response, though IGN has reached out to Sony for further comment.
In an interview with Kinda Funny Games earlier this month, Shuhei Yoshida shared his theory on why Bloodborne has not seen any official updates. He speculated that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game's creator, might be reluctant to let anyone else work on it due to his deep personal attachment to the project. Yoshida emphasized that this was merely a theory, as he no longer has insider knowledge since leaving first-party development at PlayStation.
Despite the passage of nearly a decade since its release, Bloodborne's future remains uncertain. Miyazaki has consistently redirected questions about the game, citing that FromSoftware does not own the IP. However, in a February interview last year, he acknowledged that Bloodborne could benefit from being released on more modern hardware, offering a glimmer of hope to fans.
