Bloodborne 60fps Mod Removed by Sony DMCA
Lance McDonald, a notable FromSoftware data miner and modder, has disclosed on Bluesky that his 60fps enhancement for Bloodborne has been taken down due to a DMCA takedown request from Sony.
The modification removed Bloodborne's original 30fps cap on base hardware. While it yielded limited results on the PS4, the PS4 Pro could run the game at 720p 60fps using "Boost Mode." McDonald released the patch in 2021, emphasizing it as a proof of concept.
The legal basis for the mod's removal is questionable, given the consumer right to modify software for non-commercial use. However, as with previous DMCA-related mod projects, the asymmetry between a large corporation and an individual hobbyist makes it challenging to defend against such actions. This tactic has been employed by Nintendo and is seen as an attempt to intimidate the modding and emulation community.
Despite the mod's proof-of-concept nature and limited use by the public, Sony's decision remains perplexing. Emulation remains a more promising avenue for a widely accessible homebrew remaster of Bloodborne. The ShadPS4 emulator has made significant progress in running Bloodborne on PC at 1080p 60fps.
Some speculate that Sony legal may have confused ShadPS4 with McDonald's work. Alternatively, targeting McDonald's hack may have been an easier target due to its requirement for a jailbroken PS4 system.
While there is hope that Sony's actions may indicate renewed attention to Bloodborne, the possibility of a PS5 patch or PC release has not been confirmed. McDonald remains pessimistic about the game's future on modern systems, expressing concerns about a potential "Demon's Souls-style remaster" that could alter the original's art style.