The Bloodborne PSX demake, a recent fan project, has become the latest victim of a copyright claim, following last week's takedown of the Bloodborne 60fps mod. Lance McDonald, the well-known creator of the Bloodborne 60fps mod, announced a takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment, requiring the removal of online links to his patch—four years after its release. Now, Lilith Walther, creator of Nightmare Kart (formerly Bloodborne Kart) and the impressive Bloodborne PSX demake, reports a YouTube video showcasing her demake received a copyright claim from MarkScan Enforcement. McDonald revealed MarkScan is a company employed by Sony, the same company responsible for the DMCA takedown of his 60fps patch. He expressed bewilderment at this latest DMCA targeting an older video of the Bloodborne PSX demake project.
Bloodborne's continued absence from the current generation of consoles is a significant point of contention among fans. The critically acclaimed FromSoftware title, launched on PS4, remains untouched by Sony. While fans clamor for an official next-gen patch boosting the game to 60fps, calls for a remaster and a sequel also persist. Recently, PS4 emulators achieved a near-remaster experience on PC, offering 60fps gameplay thanks to ShadPS4, as highlighted by Digital Foundry. This technological breakthrough may have prompted Sony's aggressive response. IGN has contacted Sony for comment but hasn't received a reply.
McDonald proposed a theory, suggesting Sony's actions—targeting the 60fps patch and the Bloodborne demake video—aim to clear the way for an official 60fps remake announcement. He speculates that this preemptive action is necessary to secure trademarks for "Bloodborne 60fps" and "Bloodborne remake."
Despite Sony's actions, there's been no official indication of a Bloodborne return. Last month, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida offered his perspective, suggesting that Hidetaka Miyazaki's deep attachment to Bloodborne and his busy schedule prevent him from overseeing a remaster or update, and the PlayStation team respects his wishes.
Bloodborne remains dormant nearly a decade after its initial release. While Miyazaki often deflects questions about Bloodborne, citing FromSoftware's lack of IP ownership, he did acknowledge in February 2023 that the game would benefit from a release on more modern hardware.
