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

Lance McDonald, a prominent figure in the video game modding community, recently announced via Twitter that he has received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. The notice compelled him to remove all online links to his highly anticipated 60fps patch for the acclaimed game, Bloodborne. McDonald shared this development alongside a link to his 2021 YouTube video showcasing the patch, reflecting on a humorous encounter with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, where he revealed his work on the mod.

Bloodborne, developed by FromSoftware and released exclusively on the PS4, has garnered a massive following and critical praise. Yet, despite fan demand, Sony has not released an official next-gen update to improve the game's frame rate from 30fps to 60fps, nor have they pursued a remaster or sequel. This void has been filled by community efforts, such as McDonald's patch and recent advancements in PS4 emulation, highlighted by Digital Foundry's coverage of ShadPS4, which enables Bloodborne to run at 60fps on PC. These developments might have prompted Sony's aggressive legal action, though IGN has sought clarification from Sony on this matter.

In an interview with Kinda Funny Games, Shuhei Yoshida offered his personal theory on the lack of updates for Bloodborne. He suggested that FromSoftware's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, who deeply values the game, may be too busy with other projects to oversee any updates himself and prefers not to have others alter his work. Yoshida emphasized that this is just his speculation, and he has no insider knowledge since leaving his first-party role at PlayStation.

Despite nearing a decade since its launch, Bloodborne remains untouched by official updates. However, there is a glimmer of hope; in a 2022 interview, Miyazaki acknowledged that the game could benefit from a release on more modern hardware, though he typically deflects direct questions about its future, citing FromSoftware's lack of ownership over the IP.