Sony Issues DMCA Takedown to Bloodborne 60fps Patch Creator: Why Now?

The creator of the highly acclaimed Bloodborne 60fps patch, Lance McDonald, has revealed that he received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. In a tweet, McDonald stated that he was asked to remove links to the patch he had shared online, and he has complied with the request.

McDonald, a well-known video game modder, shared a light-hearted 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 interaction highlights the community's efforts to enhance the gaming experience of the beloved FromSoftware title.

Bloodborne, which launched on PS4 to widespread critical and commercial success, remains a point of contention within the gaming community. Fans have been clamoring for an official next-gen patch to boost the game's frame rate from 30fps to 60fps, as well as a remaster or a sequel. In the absence of official updates, enthusiasts like McDonald have taken it upon themselves to improve the game's performance.

Recent advancements in PS4 emulation, particularly through the efforts of the ShadPS4 team, have allowed Bloodborne to be played at 60fps on PC, effectively providing a remastered experience. Digital Foundry's coverage of this "breakthrough in PS4 emulation" suggests a significant leap forward. This development may have prompted Sony's aggressive response, leading to the DMCA notice against McDonald. IGN has reached out to Sony for a comment on the matter.

In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, Yoshida shared his personal theory on why Bloodborne has not seen any updates or remasters. He suggested that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game's creator, is deeply attached to Bloodborne and, despite being busy with other successful projects, does not want anyone else to work on it. Yoshida emphasized that this is merely his theory and not an insider's revelation, indicating the respect the PlayStation team has for Miyazaki's wishes.

Despite the game's dormancy nearly a decade after its release, there may still be hope for Bloodborne fans. In a previous interview, Miyazaki acknowledged that the game could benefit from a release on more modern hardware, though he often deflects direct questions about the game's future, citing that FromSoftware does not own the IP.