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

Lance McDonald, the creator of the popular Bloodborne 60fps patch, has announced that he received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. The notice demanded the removal of links to the patch, which McDonald has complied with. He highlighted the irony, referencing a past meeting with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida where he jokingly revealed his work on the mod, prompting laughter from Yoshida.

Bloodborne, a critically acclaimed FromSoftware title, remains a source of much fan speculation. While the game enjoys immense popularity, Sony has yet to release an official next-gen patch, remaster, or sequel, leaving fans yearning for a 60fps experience. This void has been partially filled by community efforts like McDonald's patch and recent breakthroughs in PS4 emulation, specifically ShadPS4, which allows for a near-remaster experience on PC at 60fps. This technological advancement may have contributed to Sony's more assertive response, though Sony has yet to comment publicly.

Shuhei Yoshida recently offered his own perspective on Bloodborne's continued absence from the next-gen market in an interview with Kinda Funny Games. He theorized that Hidetaka Miyazaki's deep personal attachment to the game and his busy schedule prevent him from authorizing a remaster or update, and that PlayStation respects his wishes.

Despite Miyazaki's frequent deflection of Bloodborne questions, citing FromSoftware's lack of IP ownership, he did acknowledge in February 2023 that a release on modern hardware would be beneficial for the game. Bloodborne remains dormant nearly a decade after its release, leaving its future uncertain despite persistent fan demand.