Sony Issues DMCA to Bloodborne 60fps Patch Creator: Timing Questioned

The creator of the high-profile Bloodborne 60fps patch, Lance McDonald, has announced that he received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. In a tweet, McDonald revealed that Sony requested the removal of links to the patch he had shared online, and he complied with the request.

McDonald also referenced a YouTube video he released in 2021 about the Bloodborne 60fps patch. He recounted a humorous encounter with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, where he mentioned his work on the mod, which led to Yoshida laughing heartily at the revelation.

Bloodborne, developed by FromSoftware, remains a significant enigma in the gaming world. Launched on the PS4 to widespread acclaim, the game has not received any updates or enhancements from Sony, leaving fans eager for a next-gen patch to improve its frame rate from 30fps to 60fps, as well as calls for a remaster or a sequel.

In the absence of official updates, modders like McDonald have stepped in to fill the void. Recently, advancements in PS4 emulation, such as those showcased by Digital Foundry with the ShadPS4 emulator, have enabled Bloodborne to be played at 60fps on PC, effectively mimicking a remaster. This progress may have prompted Sony's aggressive response, and IGN has reached out to Sony for further comment.

In an interview with Kinda Funny Games earlier this month, Shuhei Yoshida shared his personal theory on why Bloodborne has not seen any updates. He speculated that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the creator of Bloodborne, is protective of the game due to his deep attachment to it and his busy schedule with other successful projects. Yoshida suggested that Miyazaki may not want anyone else to work on it, a sentiment respected by the PlayStation team.

Despite the game's dormancy nearly a decade after its release, there may still be hope. Miyazaki has acknowledged in interviews that Bloodborne could benefit from being released on more modern hardware, though he often deflects direct questions about the game's future, citing that FromSoftware does not own the IP.