Creator of Bloodborne 60fps Patch Says Sony Has Sent Him a DMCA Takedown — but Why Now?

The creator of a popular Bloodborne 60fps patch has received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony. Lance McDonald, a well-known video game modder, announced the takedown on Twitter, stating he removed all online links to the patch as requested by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

McDonald referenced a past encounter with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, where he jokingly mentioned creating the Bloodborne 60fps mod. Yoshida's reaction was reportedly laughter.

Bloodborne's continued absence of an official next-gen patch or remaster remains a significant point of contention among fans. While many desire a 60fps upgrade, calls for a remaster and sequel are also prevalent. McDonald's patch, and more recently, advancements in PS4 emulation via ShadPS4 (allowing for a near-remaster experience on PC at 60fps, as highlighted by Digital Foundry), may have prompted Sony's action. IGN has reached out to Sony for comment.

Earlier this month, Yoshida offered a personal theory regarding Bloodborne's lack of updates in an interview with Kinda Funny Games. He speculated that Hidetaka Miyazaki's deep personal attachment to the game, coupled with his busy schedule, prevents him from authorizing any further development or allowing others to work on it. Yoshida emphasized this was merely a theory, not a leak of confidential information.

Despite nearly a decade since its release, Bloodborne remains largely untouched. While Miyazaki often deflects questions about the game, citing FromSoftware's lack of IP ownership, he did acknowledge in February 2023 that a release on more modern hardware would be beneficial. The situation leaves the future of Bloodborne uncertain, despite its enduring popularity and fan demand.