PlayStation Silences Bloodborne’s 60FPS Mod: What This Means for Fans!

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As an ardent fan, I’ve always cherished the exceptional fan-made creations that have sprung from the captivating world of Bloodborne since its debut in 2015. With its unique blend of hardcore action RPG elements and exclusive status on PlayStation, it’s no wonder fans like me have been yearning for more – a remastered edition, ideally, from the brilliant minds at FromSoftware (the team behind Dark Souls series and Elden Ring).

Regrettably, one of the most celebrated fan-made patches, which has graced our gaming experience for nearly four years, has recently been hit with a DMCA notice. This means that we, the dedicated fans, can no longer enjoy this remarkable modification in our Bloodborne adventures. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but I hope this serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting official development and respecting the intellectual property rights of game creators.

On the platform previously known as Twitter, user Lance McDonald (@manfightdragon) shared a post: “On February 21st, 2021, I developed and distributed a modification for the game _Bloodborne_ that allowed it to run at 60 frames per second. Today, I received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment requesting the removal of links to the mod I published online, so I have now complied. Here’s a video demonstration of the mod.” This modification enabled players to boost the frame rate of _Bloodborne_ on PS4, which originally operated at 30 frames per second. Although some download links for the mod remain accessible, they will be more challenging to locate since Sony has issued a warning.

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Released in 2015, the game Bloodborne has been widely praised as one of the top titles on PlayStation 4, and it certainly deserves this recognition. By combining the challenging gameplay from Dark Souls with a Victorian-era setting teeming with grisly werewolves and monstrous creatures, it quickly became popular among fans. However, its exceptional execution and striking visuals set it apart even from well-established PlayStation exclusives like The Last of Us and Horizon: Zero Dawn.

What Does This Mean For Bloodborne?

Sony’s decision to issue DMCA notices at this time is driven by several factors. Primarily, they aim to prevent unauthorized use of their content for copyright purposes, even when it’s just being updated or modified. The company has frequently requested the removal of content that uses its intellectual properties, especially when such content gains popularity. A notable example is Bloodborne Kart, a fan-made project that reimagined characters, settings, and tone from the Miyazaki-directed IP in the style of Mario Kart. Despite being well-developed by a small team, it was taken down due to copyright infringements. The creators were encouraged to draw inspiration from Bloodborne instead of directly adapting the game itself.

It’s possible that Sony, due in part to fan demand from individuals like popular streamer Kai Cenat, continues to recognize the existence of “Bloodborne”. The desire for FromSoftware’s gory Victorian adventure has been a recurring theme in gaming, even as PlayStation began moving their IPs to PC, with titles like “Horizon: Zero Dawn” leading the way. However, given the overwhelming success of “Elden Ring”, it remains uncertain if FromSoftware will revisit Yharnam for a remaster, port, or sequel. In a recent interview on Greg Miller’s Kinda Funny Podcast, former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida expressed that game director Miyazaki-san has deep affection for “Bloodborne” and might be interested in revisiting it, but is too busy with his success to do so himself. He also stated that Miyazaki doesn’t want anyone else to work on the project, and PlayStation respects this wish.

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It’s quite plausible that the remastering of Bloodborne, similar to the one done for Demon Souls on PlayStation 5, might be in the works given its successful launch. With its 10-year anniversary approaching on March 24th, fans are eagerly watching for any updates from Sony. There’s been talk about a possible State of Play event, leaked by trusted sources NateTheHate and eXtas1s, which we reported earlier this month. Could the wait of a decade finally be nearing its end? We’ll have to wait a bit longer to find out.

PlayStation 4 users can buy ‘Bloodborne’. It’s also accessible on PlayStation Plus until 2026. If you’re a fan of FromSoftware, their upcoming game, titled “Elden Ring: Nightreign“, will hold an open beta in February before its full release later this year.

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2025-02-01 00:12