Bloodborne PSX Demake's Copyright Woes & Fan Remake Hope

Sony's copyright claims against Bloodborne fan projects are escalating. Following the takedown of the popular Bloodborne 60fps mod last week, the Bloodborne PSX demake has now become the latest target.

Lance McDonald, creator of the Bloodborne 60fps mod, confirmed a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment, forcing him to remove online links to his patch. This action comes four years after the mod's release.

Lilith Walther, creator of the impressive Bloodborne PSX demake and Nightmare Kart (formerly Bloodborne Kart), reported a copyright claim by MarkScan Enforcement on a YouTube video showcasing her demake. McDonald revealed MarkScan is a company contracted by Sony, the same entity responsible for the DMCA takedown of his 60fps patch.

The timing of these actions raises speculation, particularly given recent advancements in PS4 emulation. Digital Foundry highlighted a breakthrough in PS4 emulation using ShadPS4, enabling a near-remaster experience of Bloodborne at 60fps on PC. This development could have spurred a more aggressive response from Sony. IGN has reached out to Sony for comment but has yet to receive a response.

McDonald proposed a "copium theory" – that Sony's actions are a preemptive measure to clear the way for an official 60fps remake or remaster. He suggests this would prevent conflicts with fan projects in search results for terms like "Bloodborne 60fps" and "Bloodborne remake," potentially necessary for trademarking these phrases.

Despite these aggressive moves, Sony hasn't officially announced any plans for a Bloodborne remake, remaster, or even a simple 60fps patch. Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida offered his perspective, suggesting that Hidetaka Miyazaki's strong attachment to the game and his desire for creative control might be preventing any official updates. Yoshida emphasized this was purely his personal theory, not leaked information.

Bloodborne's future remains uncertain, nearly a decade after its initial release. While Miyazaki often deflects questions about the game, citing FromSoftware's lack of IP ownership, he did acknowledge last year that a release on modern hardware would be beneficial. The situation leaves fans in a state of hopeful anticipation, but with no concrete information from Sony.