Sony Issues DMCA Takedown to Bloodborne 60fps Patch Creator: Why Now?

The creator of the widely-discussed Bloodborne 60fps patch, Lance McDonald, has recently disclosed receiving a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. In a tweet, McDonald shared that he had to remove all links to the patch he had previously made available online, complying with Sony's request.

McDonald also highlighted a light-hearted moment from a meeting with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, where he casually mentioned his work on the 60fps mod for Bloodborne, to which Yoshida responded with laughter. This interaction underscores the community's affection for the game and the lengths to which fans like McDonald will go to enhance their gaming experience.

Bloodborne, a critically and commercially successful title developed by FromSoftware and released on the PS4, remains a significant point of contention in the gaming world. Fans have been clamoring for an official next-gen update to boost the game's performance to 60fps, along with calls for a remaster and a sequel. In the absence of official updates, enthusiasts like McDonald have stepped in to fill the void. Recently, advancements in PS4 emulation, highlighted by Digital Foundry's coverage of the ShadPS4 emulator, have enabled players to experience Bloodborne at 60fps on PC, potentially prompting Sony's swift action. IGN has reached out to Sony for further comment on the matter.

In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, Shuhei Yoshida shared his personal theory on why Bloodborne has not received any updates or remasters. He suggested that FromSoftware's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, who deeply values the game, might be hesitant to let others touch it due to his busy schedule and success with other projects. Yoshida emphasized that this is merely a theory and not insider information, reflecting the respect the PlayStation team has for Miyazaki's wishes.

Despite nearly a decade passing since its initial release, Bloodborne remains untouched by official updates. While Miyazaki often avoids direct questions about the game's future, citing that FromSoftware does not own the IP, he has acknowledged in past interviews that the game could benefit from being released on more modern hardware.