The Bloodborne PSX demake, a fan project inspired by the iconic FromSoftware game, has recently been targeted with a copyright claim, marking it as the latest in a series of actions against Bloodborne-related fan creations. This follows the takedown of a popular Bloodborne 60fps mod by its creator, Lance McDonald, who was compelled to remove links to his patch after receiving a notification from Sony Interactive Entertainment.

McDonald's patch, which had been available for four years, was hit with a DMCA takedown. Similarly, Lilith Walther, known for her work on Nightmare Kart (formerly Bloodborne Kart) and the visually striking Bloodborne PSX demake, reported that a YouTube video showcasing the demake was struck with a copyright claim by MarkScan Enforcement. McDonald confirmed that MarkScan is a firm employed by Sony, the same entity responsible for the takedown of his 60fps patch.

The situation raises questions about Sony's strategy concerning Bloodborne, a title that has garnered immense acclaim since its PS4 release but has seen no official updates or sequels. Fans are eager for a next-gen patch to boost the game's frame rate from 30fps to 60fps, alongside calls for a remaster or a sequel. Recent advancements in PS4 emulation have allowed the game to be played at 60fps on PC, a development covered by tech experts at Digital Foundry. This could potentially be a catalyst for Sony's recent actions, although the company has yet to comment on the matter.

Speculating on Sony's motives, McDonald shared his "copium theory," suggesting that these takedowns might be a precursor to an official 60fps remake announcement, aimed at clearing the search space for such terms. He posited that Sony might be preparing to trademark phrases like "bloodborne 60fps" and "Bloodborne remake," necessitating the removal of conflicting fan projects.

Despite these aggressive moves, there's no clear indication from Sony about revisiting Bloodborne. Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida offered his perspective on the game's dormancy, theorizing that FromSoftware's Hidetaka Miyazaki, deeply attached to Bloodborne, might be unwilling to let anyone else work on it due to his busy schedule with other successful projects. Yoshida suggested that PlayStation respects Miyazaki's wishes, which could explain the lack of updates.

As Bloodborne nears a decade since its initial release, the future of the game remains uncertain. Miyazaki has hinted at the potential benefits of a modern hardware release but has consistently deferred to the fact that FromSoftware does not own the IP. The community continues to hope for some form of revival, but for now, Bloodborne's future hangs in the balance.