The Bloodborne PSX demake, a fan-made project inspired by the beloved FromSoftware title, 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 60fps mod, disclosed that he received a takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment, compelling him to remove all links to his patch from the internet. This action came four years after the mod's initial release.
Lilith Walther, the mind behind Nightmare Kart (formerly known as 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, developed by FromSoftware and released on the PS4, has garnered immense acclaim and a fervent fanbase. Despite its success, Sony has not revisited the game, leaving fans yearning for a next-gen patch to boost the game's frame rate from 30fps to 60fps, as well as a potential remaster or sequel. Recent advancements in PS4 emulation, highlighted by Digital Foundry's coverage of the ShadPS4 emulator, have enabled fans to experience Bloodborne at 60fps on PC, sparking speculation about whether this progress prompted Sony's aggressive copyright enforcement.
In response to these developments, 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 a strategic move to clear the search engine results for terms like "bloodborne 60fps" and "Bloodborne remake," thereby avoiding conflicts with fan projects when an official announcement is made. McDonald also pondered whether Sony's actions were a precursor to filing trademark requests for these terms.
Despite these recent moves by Sony, there has been no official indication of plans to revisit Bloodborne. Shuhei Yoshida, a former PlayStation executive, shared his personal theory in an interview with Kinda Funny Games, suggesting that FromSoftware's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, might be reluctant to let anyone else work on Bloodborne due to his deep attachment to the project and his busy schedule with other successful ventures.
As Bloodborne approaches its 10th anniversary, the game remains untouched by official updates or remasters. While Miyazaki has acknowledged the potential benefits of releasing Bloodborne on more modern hardware, the future of this cherished title remains uncertain, leaving fans hopeful yet in limbo.
