Sony Issues DMCA to Bloodborne 60fps Patch Creator: Timing Questioned

The creator of the high-profile Bloodborne 60fps patch, Lance McDonald, has recently announced that he received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment. In a tweet, McDonald shared that Sony requested the removal of all links to the patch he had previously posted online, and he has complied with the request.

McDonald, a well-known video game tinkerer, recounted his interaction with former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida in a YouTube video from 2021 about the Bloodborne 60fps patch. During a meeting, McDonald mentioned his modding work, including the 60fps mod for Bloodborne, which elicited a hearty laugh from Yoshida.

Bloodborne, developed by FromSoftware, is a critically acclaimed game that launched on the PS4 but has not seen any official updates from Sony since its release. The gaming community has been clamoring for a next-gen patch to boost the game's performance to 60fps, as well as for a remaster or a sequel. In the absence of official action, enthusiasts like McDonald have stepped in to fill the void.

Recent advancements in PS4 emulation, highlighted by Digital Foundry's coverage of ShadPS4, have allowed fans to experience Bloodborne at 60fps on PC. This breakthrough may have prompted Sony's aggressive response, though IGN has reached out to Sony for further comment.

In an interview with Kinda Funny Games earlier this month, Yoshida shared his personal theory on why Bloodborne has remained untouched. He suggested that FromSoftware's Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game's creator, might be protective of his work and unwilling to let others handle it, despite being too busy to undertake the project himself. Yoshida emphasized that this was merely his theory and not an insider's revelation.

Despite nearly a decade since its initial release, Bloodborne remains dormant. While Miyazaki often avoids direct questions about the game, citing FromSoftware's lack of ownership over the IP, he did acknowledge in an interview last February that the game could benefit from being updated for more modern hardware.