A fan project that creatively reimagines Bloodborne with a PlayStation 1 aesthetic recently found itself in hot water, receiving a copyright claim on YouTube. The main developer of this project took to social media to reveal that a video showcasing the demake was hit with this claim. This event marks the second time within a week that fan-made content related to Sony’s acclaimed Souls-like game has come under scrutiny.
Bloodborne was first introduced to gamers in March 2015, exclusively for the PS4. This title, born from the collaboration between Sony and FromSoftware, was directed by the mastermind behind Dark Souls, Hidetaka Miyazaki. Set in the hauntingly atmospheric city of Yharnam, its storyline follows a Hunter who battles the horrors created by a mysterious and transformative illness, with lycanthropy being a notable result. Since its debut, a strong fan base has been vocal about their desire for an official remake. However, in the meantime, some dedicated enthusiasts have taken it upon themselves to craft their own tributes to the game.
Three years have passed since the fanmade Bloodborne PS1 demake was offered for free download, and now its lead developer reports that a YouTube video related to the demake was flagged under copyright claims by MarkScan Enforcement. This agency, employed by Sony, is tasked with handling copyright issues and DMCA takedowns against infringements on the company’s properties. Lilith Walther, the driving force behind the demake, shared the news online. Upon its release, the game was downloaded over 100,000 times via Itch.io, and as of now, the PC version remains downloadable, with the most updated version being 1.05. Nonetheless, the legal action against this YouTube video is the second instance striking Bloodborne fan contributions in the early days of 2025.
Only a few days prior, on January 31, a fan-initiated 60 FPS patch for Bloodborne faced its own DMCA takedown nearly four years into its development. Despite Bloodborne being accessible on the PS5 through backward compatibility, the frame rate remains capped at 30 FPS. Lance McDonald, the creator behind the 60 FPS patch, also pointed out that the takedown notice stemmed from MarkScan Enforcement’s actions. In light of these incidents, McDonald suggested that Sony might be clearing the way for an official Bloodborne remake, noting that fan projects could potentially affect online search results.
There have been musings, notably from former Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida, about a possible Bloodborne remaster. However, neither Sony nor FromSoftware has made any formal announcements. The gaming community will have to wait to see if another adventure through Yharnam is on the horizon.
