Creator of Bloodborne 60fps Patch Says Sony Has Sent Him a DMCA Takedown — but Why Now?

The creator of a popular Bloodborne 60fps patch has received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony. Lance McDonald, a renowned video game modder, announced on Twitter that Sony Interactive Entertainment demanded the removal of links to his patch, which he subsequently complied with.

McDonald highlighted a YouTube video showcasing the 2021 patch and recounted a humorous encounter with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida. He mentioned creating PlayStation game mods, including the Bloodborne 60fps mod, prompting laughter from Yoshida.

Bloodborne's status as a significant industry enigma is well-known. Despite its critical and commercial success on PS4, Sony has yet to officially address fan requests for a 60fps patch, remaster, or sequel. This void has been partially filled by modders like McDonald, and more recently, by advancements in PS4 emulation.

Recent breakthroughs in PS4 emulation, particularly ShadPS4, allow for a near-remaster experience on PC, including a full 60fps playthrough. This development raises questions about whether it spurred Sony's more aggressive DMCA action. IGN has reached out to Sony for comment.

Earlier this month, Yoshida offered his perspective on Bloodborne's inactivity in an interview with Kinda Funny Games. He theorized that Hidetaka Miyazaki's deep personal attachment to Bloodborne, coupled with his busy schedule and unwillingness to delegate its potential remaster or update, prevents any action. Yoshida emphasized this was merely his personal theory and not a leak of confidential information.

Bloodborne remains untouched nearly a decade after its release. While Miyazaki often deflects questions about the game, citing FromSoftware's lack of IP ownership, he did acknowledge in February 2023 that a release on more modern hardware would be beneficial.