Bloodborne PSX Demake Halt Sparks Remake Rumors

The Bloodborne PSX demake, a fan-created project, is the latest to face a copyright claim from Sony Interactive Entertainment, following last week's takedown of a Bloodborne 60fps mod.

Lance McDonald, the creator of the well-known Bloodborne 60fps mod, announced a DMCA takedown notice from Sony, four years after the mod's release, requesting the removal of online links to his patch.

Lilith Walther, creator of the Bloodborne PSX demake and Nightmare Kart (formerly Bloodborne Kart), reported that a YouTube video showcasing the demake received a copyright claim from MarkScan Enforcement, a company confirmed by McDonald as being hired by Sony. This is the same company that issued the DMCA for McDonald's 60fps patch. McDonald expressed bewilderment at Sony's actions.

Bloodborne's continued absence from the next-gen market is a significant point of contention among fans. While the game received critical acclaim upon its PS4 release, Sony has yet to release an official next-gen patch, remaster, or sequel, despite fan demand for a 60fps upgrade.

Recent advancements in PS4 emulation, notably ShadPS4, allowing for a near-remaster experience at 60fps on PC, have fueled speculation about Sony's aggressive response. While Sony hasn't commented, McDonald theorizes that the DMCA takedowns are a preemptive measure to clear the way for an official 60fps remake announcement, preventing search engine conflicts with fan projects.

Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida offered his perspective, suggesting that Hidetaka Miyazaki's deep personal attachment to Bloodborne and his unwillingness to allow others to work on it, might be the reason for the game's inactivity. Yoshida emphasizes this is merely his personal theory.

Despite Miyazaki's previous statements acknowledging the game's potential benefit from a modern hardware release, Bloodborne remains largely untouched nearly a decade after its initial launch. While FromSoftware doesn't own the IP, the situation leaves Bloodborne's future uncertain.