Bloodborne PSX Demake Hit with Copyright Claim; 60fps Mod Creator Shares 'Copium' Remake Theory

The Bloodborne PSX demake has recently joined the list of fan projects related to Bloodborne that have been targeted by copyright claims, following the takedown of the Bloodborne 60fps mod last week. Lance McDonald, a well-known creator behind the Bloodborne 60fps mod, revealed that he received a takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. This request came four years after the mod was initially released, asking him to remove all links to the patch he had shared online, which he has since complied with.

In a similar vein, Lilith Walther, the creative mind behind Nightmare Kart (formerly known as Bloodborne Kart) and the visually striking Bloodborne PSX demake, announced via Twitter that a YouTube video showcasing the demake was hit with a copyright claim by a company called MarkScan Enforcement. McDonald later clarified that MarkScan is a company contracted by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the same entity that issued the DMCA takedown for his 60fps patch. He expressed confusion and frustration over these actions, questioning Sony's motives behind targeting these fan projects.

Bloodborne, developed by FromSoftware and released on the PS4, has been a subject of much discussion and desire within the gaming community due to its critical and commercial success. Fans have been clamoring for an official next-gen update to boost the game's frame rate from 30fps to 60fps, alongside requests for a remaster or even a sequel. The recent advancement in PS4 emulation, demonstrated by Digital Foundry's coverage of ShadPS4's breakthrough, has allowed Bloodborne to be played at 60fps on PC, which might have prompted Sony's aggressive response. IGN has reached out to Sony for comment but has yet to receive a response.

In an attempt to rationalize Sony's actions, McDonald proposed his "copium theory," suggesting that Sony might be preparing to announce an official 60fps remake. He speculated that by removing fan-made content, Sony could be clearing the way for trademarking terms like "Bloodborne 60fps" and "Bloodborne remake" without interference from existing fan projects. Despite these theories, there has been no official indication from Sony about plans to revisit Bloodborne.

Adding to the speculation, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida shared his thoughts on why Bloodborne hasn't seen an update or remaster. He theorized that FromSoftware's creator, Hidetaka Miyazaki, might be reluctant to allow others to work on the game due to his personal attachment to it, despite his busy schedule with other successful projects. Yoshida emphasized that this was merely his personal theory and not based on insider information.

Despite these developments, Bloodborne remains untouched nearly a decade after its release. While Miyazaki has acknowledged that the game could benefit from being updated for modern hardware, he has consistently avoided definitive statements on its future, citing FromSoftware's lack of ownership over the IP.