Lance McDonald Receives DMCA Notice from Sony
Lance McDonald, the well-known modder behind the popular 60fps patch for Bloodborne, has revealed that Sony Interactive Entertainment has issued a DMCA takedown notice, forcing him to remove links to his patch. McDonald shared the news via Twitter, confirming that he had complied with the takedown request. The mod, which had been available online for a while, allowed players to enjoy Bloodborne on PlayStation 4 at a smoother 60 frames per second, a feature fans had long wished for but that Sony had not officially delivered.
“Sony asked that I remove links to the patch I posted on the internet, so I’ve now done so,” McDonald wrote in his tweet. He had shared the patch back in 2021, which instantly gained attention from the Bloodborne fanbase. The mod was lauded for enhancing the game’s performance, making it run at 60fps instead of the original 30fps, which had been a major point of criticism for the game’s technical limitations on PlayStation 4.
A Moment with Shuhei Yoshida
In a lighthearted reflection on his experience, McDonald also recalled a moment with Shuhei Yoshida, a former PlayStation executive. McDonald recalled telling Yoshida that he had created the 60fps mod for Bloodborne, to which Yoshida responded with a laugh. “I met @yosp and said to him ‘I make mods for PlayStation games,’ and he said ‘oh!’” McDonald shared, adding that Yoshida had laughed heartily when he mentioned the Bloodborne mod. While the exchange was jovial, it also highlighted the disconnect between PlayStation’s official stance on modding and the reality of fan-driven efforts to enhance classic games.
The Unfulfilled Demand for a Bloodborne Remaster
The situation with McDonald’s patch highlights the ongoing frustration among Bloodborne fans. Since the game’s release on PlayStation 4 in 2015, fans have clamored for a 60fps update or a remaster to take full advantage of next-gen hardware. Despite Bloodborne‘s critical and commercial success, Sony has not provided any updates or improvements for the game, leaving it stuck at 30fps.
The demand for a Bloodborne remaster or sequel has only grown in recent years, with fans hoping to see the beloved title updated for PlayStation 5. However, Sony has remained silent on the matter, with no official announcements regarding the game’s future.
Emulation Breakthrough Fuels Fan Hopes
The situation has been further complicated by recent breakthroughs in PlayStation 4 emulation. Fans and tech experts alike have managed to get Bloodborne running at 60fps via the ShadPS4 emulator. A video from Digital Foundry recently showcased the achievement, sparking renewed interest in the possibility of playing Bloodborne with enhanced graphics and performance on PC.
While these developments have given fans hope, it remains unclear whether they prompted Sony’s recent takedown action. Emulation has always been a gray area legally, and Sony’s decision to clamp down on modding efforts may reflect a broader stance on preserving the integrity of its games and intellectual property.
Yoshida’s Bloodborne Theory
In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, Yoshida shared his theory as to why Bloodborne remains untouched by Sony. He suggested that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of Bloodborne, might be unwilling to allow anyone else to revisit the game, given his strong attachment to it. “Miyazaki-san really, really loved Bloodborne,” Yoshida explained. “So I think he is interested, but he’s so successful and he’s so busy, so he doesn’t want, he cannot do it himself, but he does not want anyone else to touch it.”
Despite this theory, Yoshida made it clear that he could not reveal any insider information. However, he acknowledged that Bloodborne would likely benefit from a release on more modern hardware, a sentiment that fans have echoed for years.
The Future of Bloodborne
As of now, Bloodborne remains dormant, with no official word from Sony or FromSoftware about a potential remaster or sequel. While Bloodborne fans continue to celebrate the game through modding and emulation, it seems that the title’s future remains uncertain. However, with the rise of fan-driven efforts like McDonald’s 60fps patch and the emulation breakthroughs, it’s clear that the community’s passion for the game is far from waning.
