The creator of the highly acclaimed Bloodborne 60fps patch, Lance McDonald, has been hit with a DMCA takedown notice from Sony. In a recent tweet, McDonald revealed that he received a takedown request on behalf of Sony Interactive Entertainment, prompting him to remove all links to the patch he had previously shared online.
McDonald, known for his work in video game modifications, shared a lighthearted anecdote about his encounter with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida. During their meeting, McDonald mentioned his work on the 60fps mod for Bloodborne, to which Yoshida responded with laughter. This personal interaction highlights the community's efforts to enhance beloved games, even when official updates are not forthcoming.
Bloodborne, developed by FromSoftware and released on the PS4, has been a subject of much discussion and fan demand since its launch. The game received widespread critical and commercial success, yet Sony has not released an official next-gen patch to improve its frame rate from 30fps to 60fps. Fans have not only called for such an update but also for a remaster and a sequel. In the absence of official action, enthusiasts like McDonald have stepped in to fill the gap with mods.
Recent advancements in PS4 emulation, notably by the tech experts at Digital Foundry and through the use of ShadPS4, have allowed Bloodborne to be fully playable on PC at 60fps. This significant breakthrough has led to speculation that it might have prompted Sony's aggressive response. IGN has reached out to Sony for further comment on the situation.
In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, Shuhei Yoshida shared his personal theory on why Bloodborne has not seen any updates or remasters. He suggested that FromSoftware's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, who deeply cherishes the game, might be too busy to oversee any updates himself and prefers not to have others touch his creation. Yoshida emphasized that this is merely his theory, and he is not privy to any confidential information since leaving his first-party role at PlayStation.
Despite nearly a decade passing since its initial release, Bloodborne remains untouched by official updates. In interviews, Miyazaki often sidesteps questions about the game, noting that FromSoftware does not own the IP. However, in a statement from last year, he acknowledged that Bloodborne could benefit from being released on more modern hardware, offering a glimmer of hope to fans.
