The Bloodborne PSX demake, a fan-made project inspired by the iconic FromSoftware game, has recently encountered a copyright claim, following in the footsteps of the Bloodborne 60fps mod which faced a similar issue last week. Lance McDonald, the creator of the well-known Bloodborne 60fps mod, disclosed that he received a takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment, compelling him to remove links to his patch. This action came four years after the mod's initial release.
Lilith Walther, the creative mind behind Nightmare Kart (formerly Bloodborne Kart) and the visually striking Bloodborne PSX demake, took to Twitter to announce that a YouTube video showcasing the demake was hit with a copyright claim by MarkScan Enforcement. McDonald further clarified that MarkScan is a company employed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the same entity responsible for the DMCA takedown of his 60fps patch page. He expressed his bewilderment at the situation, questioning Sony's motives behind these actions.
Bloodborne, a critically acclaimed masterpiece developed by FromSoftware and released on the PS4, has become a focal point of frustration for fans due to Sony's lack of updates or enhancements. The community has been vocal about their desire for a next-gen patch to boost the game's frame rate to 60fps, as well as calls for a remaster or a sequel. Recent advancements in PS4 emulation, highlighted by Digital Foundry's coverage of the ShadPS4 emulator, have allowed players to experience Bloodborne at 60fps on PC, potentially prompting Sony's aggressive response. IGN has reached out to Sony for comment, but has yet to receive a response.
In light of these events, McDonald proposed a "copium theory" suggesting that Sony might be preparing to announce an official 60fps remake. He speculated that Sony's takedown actions could be an attempt to clear the search results for terms like "bloodborne 60fps" and "Bloodborne remake" to avoid confusion with fan projects when an official announcement is made. He also pondered whether Sony might be planning to trademark these terms, necessitating the removal of conflicting content.
Despite these developments, Sony has not provided any indication of plans to revisit Bloodborne. Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida shared his personal theory in an interview with Kinda Funny Games, suggesting that FromSoftware's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, might be protective of the game due to his deep personal attachment to it. Yoshida speculated that Miyazaki's busy schedule and reluctance to let others work on the game could be reasons for the lack of updates, with the PlayStation team respecting his wishes.
As Bloodborne approaches its 10-year anniversary, the game remains untouched by official updates. However, Miyazaki has acknowledged in past interviews that the game could benefit from being released on more modern hardware, hinting at potential future developments despite not owning the IP.
