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 that faced similar action 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. This action came four years after the mod's initial release.
Lilith Walther, known for her work on Nightmare Kart (formerly Bloodborne Kart) and the visually striking Bloodborne PSX demake, reported that a YouTube video showcasing the demake was targeted with a copyright claim by MarkScan Enforcement. McDonald later confirmed that MarkScan is a company employed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the same entity responsible for the DMCA notice against his 60fps patch. He expressed bewilderment at the situation, questioning Sony's motives behind these actions.
Bloodborne, originally released for the PS4, has garnered immense acclaim and a fervent fanbase yearning for enhancements such as a 60fps patch, a remaster, or even a sequel. Recent advancements in PS4 emulation technology, highlighted by Digital Foundry's coverage of ShadPS4's breakthrough, have allowed the game to be played at 60fps on PC, sparking speculation about Sony's reaction to these developments. IGN sought a comment from Sony, but the company has yet to respond.
McDonald speculated that Sony's aggressive copyright enforcement might hint at an upcoming official 60fps remake. He suggested that Sony might be clearing the digital landscape to ensure that searches for 'Bloodborne 60fps' or 'Bloodborne remake' do not conflict with fan projects when an official announcement is made. However, these are merely theories, and Sony has not provided any indication of plans to revisit Bloodborne.
Shuhei Yoshida, a former PlayStation executive, shared his perspective on the lack of updates for Bloodborne. He theorized that FromSoftware's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, might be protective of the game due to his deep personal connection to it and his busy schedule with other projects, leading PlayStation to respect his wishes and refrain from making changes without his direct involvement.
Despite these developments, Bloodborne remains untouched nearly a decade after its initial release. While Miyazaki has acknowledged that the game could benefit from being updated for modern hardware, the future of Bloodborne remains uncertain as FromSoftware does not own the intellectual property.
