Overview of Recent Copyright Issues Surrounding Bloodborne Projects
- The Bloodborne PS1 demake encountered a copyright claim on YouTube targeting one of its videos.
- This incident followed closely after Sony’s DMCA takedown of a fan-created 60 FPS patch for the game.
- Both of these legal actions were executed by MarkScan Enforcement, representing Sony’s interests.
The recent copyright claim against the PS1-themed Bloodborne demake has generated significant conversation within the gaming community. The claim was revealed by the project’s creator on social media, marking this as the second copyright issue related to Sony’s acclaimed title within the same week.
Released in March 2015 exclusively for the PlayStation 4, Bloodborne was developed through a collaboration between Sony and FromSoftware, headed by renowned game director Hidetaka Miyazaki, known for the Dark Souls series. Set in a gothic, Victorian-inspired city named Yharnam, players assume the role of a Hunter who battles grotesque creatures transformed by a mysterious bloodborne affliction, with lycanthropy being a prevalent consequence of the plague. Over the years, fans of Bloodborne have passionately advocated for an official remake. In response to this demand, some enthusiasts have embarked on creating tribute projects to celebrate the game.
After the release of the PS1-style demake three years ago, the lead developer, Lilith Walther, reported a copyright claim on a YouTube video discussing the fan project. As noted by IGN, the claim was filed by MarkScan Enforcement, the firm engaged by Sony for managing copyright issues. Walther’s creation achieved remarkable popularity, amassing over 100, 000 downloads on Itch.io shortly after its launch. Despite the copyright claim on the related video, the Bloodborne PS1 demake remains available for download on Windows, with the latest version being 1.05. Notably, this claim marks the second legal challenge against fan-driven Bloodborne projects in early 2025.
Sony’s Legal Actions Against Bloodborne Fan Projects
The situation intensified on January 31, when a fan-created 60 FPS patch for Bloodborne faced a DMCA takedown notice after nearly four years of development. While the game can be played on the PS5 with backward compatibility, it remains constrained to 30 FPS. Lance McDonald, the developer behind the 60 FPS patch, confirmed that the same enforcement company, MarkScan, facilitated the DMCA action against him. Following these events, McDonald speculated that Sony’s recent takedowns might signal preparations for an official remake of Bloodborne, aiming to clear the way for a new release while sidelining fan projects that could dilute visibility in search results.
Despite insights from former Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida hinting at a possible remaster, Sony and FromSoftware have yet to provide any official confirmation regarding this speculation. Only time will reveal whether players will once again traverse the haunting landscapes of Yharnam.
Leave a Reply