The creator of the high-profile Bloodborne 60fps patch, Lance McDonald, has revealed that he received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. In a tweet, McDonald stated that he was asked to remove all links to the patch he had previously shared online, and he has complied with the request.
McDonald also shared a humorous anecdote about a conversation he had with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida. During a meeting, McDonald told Yoshida about his work on mods for PlayStation games, specifically mentioning the 60fps mod for Bloodborne, which elicited a hearty laugh from Yoshida.
Bloodborne, developed by FromSoftware and released on the PS4, has garnered immense praise and a dedicated fanbase. Despite its success, Sony has not released any updates, remasters, or sequels for the game, leaving fans longing for an official 60fps patch. In the absence of official support, enthusiasts like McDonald have stepped in to enhance the game's performance.
Recent advancements in PS4 emulation have allowed fans to experience Bloodborne at 60fps on PC, thanks to breakthroughs like the ShadPS4 emulator highlighted by Digital Foundry. This development may have prompted Sony's aggressive response, although IGN's request for comment from Sony remains unanswered.
In an interview with Kinda Funny Games, Shuhei Yoshida shared his theory on why Bloodborne has remained untouched. He suggested that FromSoftware's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, is protective of the game and does not want anyone else to work on it, despite being too busy himself. Yoshida speculated that the PlayStation team respects Miyazaki's wishes, which could explain the lack of updates.
Despite the game's dormancy nearly a decade after its release, there may be a glimmer of hope. In interviews, Miyazaki has acknowledged that Bloodborne could benefit from being available on more modern hardware, although he often deflects direct questions about the game's future, citing that FromSoftware does not own the IP.
