Sony Issues DMCA to Bloodborne 60fps Patch Creator: Timing Questioned

The creator of the widely recognized Bloodborne 60fps patch, Lance McDonald, has revealed that he received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony. In a tweet, McDonald shared that Sony Interactive Entertainment requested the removal of links to the patch he had made available online, and he complied with the request. He further referenced a YouTube video he posted in 2021 about the patch and shared an amusing anecdote about meeting former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, where he mentioned creating the 60fps mod for Bloodborne, eliciting laughter from Yoshida.

Bloodborne, a critically acclaimed masterpiece by FromSoftware, has been a focal point of frustration for fans since its release on the PS4. The game, which has not seen any official updates or remasters from Sony, has left the community yearning for a next-gen patch to boost its frame rate from 30fps to 60fps, as well as calls for a remaster and a sequel. In the absence of official action, enthusiasts like McDonald have stepped in to fill the void. Recently, the use of PS4 emulators like ShadPS4 has enabled fans to experience Bloodborne at 60fps on PC, a development covered by Digital Foundry. This breakthrough might have prompted Sony's aggressive response, with IGN seeking comments from Sony on the matter.

In an interview with Kinda Funny Games, Yoshida shared his personal theory on why Bloodborne hasn't seen any updates or remasters. He suggested that FromSoftware's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, who deeply cherishes Bloodborne, might be too busy to personally work on any updates and prefers not to have anyone else handle the project. Yoshida emphasized that this was merely his theory and not based on insider information, and he noted that the PlayStation team respects Miyazaki's wishes.

Despite nearly a decade passing since the game's initial release, Bloodborne remains untouched by official updates. However, there is a glimmer of hope as Miyazaki has acknowledged in past interviews that the game could benefit from being released on more modern hardware, although he often redirects questions about Bloodborne by mentioning that FromSoftware does not own the IP.