Today marks the 10th anniversary of Bloodborne, and fans are commemorating this milestone by organizing another "Return to Yharnam" community event. Launched on March 24, 2015, for the PlayStation 4, FromSoftware's masterpiece not only solidified the Japanese developer's reputation as one of the greatest in the industry but also received widespread critical and commercial success. This led many to expect a sequel or a remaster akin to the Dark Souls series. Yet, a decade later, there has been no follow-up, remaster, or even a next-gen update to bring Bloodborne to 60fps. The ongoing silence from Sony on this front continues to baffle the gaming community.
Earlier this year, some insight was offered into this mystery. Following his departure from Sony, Shuhei Yoshida, a revered figure in PlayStation's history, shared his theory on the absence of new Bloodborne content. During an interview with Kinda Funny Games, Yoshida emphasized that this was purely his opinion, not based on any insider knowledge or current deliberations within Sony."Bloodborne has always been the most requested," Yoshida noted. "Fans wonder why we haven't done anything, not even an update or a remaster. It should be straightforward, especially given Sony's track record with remasters. It's a source of frustration for some."
Yoshida's personal theory suggests that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the head of FromSoftware and the visionary behind Bloodborne, is deeply attached to the game. Despite his success with projects like the Dark Souls series and the recent blockbuster Elden Ring (which is set to have a multiplayer spin-off this year), Miyazaki's busy schedule and reluctance to let others work on Bloodborne might be the reason for the standstill. Yoshida believes that Sony respects Miyazaki's wishes on this matter.
Miyazaki's post-Bloodborne career has been prolific, directing Dark Souls 3, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for Activision, and Elden Ring for Bandai Namco. Despite often sidestepping questions about Bloodborne by citing FromSoftware's lack of ownership over the IP, Miyazaki did acknowledge last year that the game could benefit from being released on more modern hardware.
In the absence of official updates, modders have attempted to enhance the Bloodborne experience on the PS4. However, Sony has been less than enthusiastic about these efforts. For instance, Lance McDonald, creator of a popular 60fps mod, was served a DMCA takedown notice four years after releasing his patch. Similarly, Lilith Walther, behind projects like Nightmare Kart and the Bloodborne PSX demake, faced a copyright claim on an old YouTube video.
Recent advancements in PS4 emulation have allowed fans to experience something close to a remastered version of Bloodborne on PC, with Digital Foundry reporting on a breakthrough via ShadPS4 that enables full gameplay at 60fps. This development prompted speculation about Sony's aggressive response, though IGN's request for comment from Sony went unanswered.
With no official word from Sony or FromSoftware, fans have taken it upon themselves to keep the spirit of Bloodborne alive. The latest "Return to Yharnam" event, coinciding with the game's 10th anniversary, encourages players to start fresh characters, summon cooperators and invaders, and leave messages signaling their participation in this community initiative. As time goes on, these fan-driven events might be the only way for enthusiasts to continue experiencing the world of Bloodborne.
The Best PS4 Games (Summer 2020 Update)
26 Images
