Bloodborne Fans Celebrate 10th Anniversary with Return to Yharnam Event

Today marks the 10th anniversary of Bloodborne, and fans are commemorating this milestone by launching another "Return to Yharnam" community event. FromSoftware's PlayStation 4 masterpiece, which debuted on March 24, 2015, solidified the Japanese developer's status as one of the industry's top creators. The game received widespread critical and commercial success, fueling expectations for a sequel similar to the Dark Souls series. However, a decade later, there has been no follow-up in the form of a current-gen remaster, a sequel, or even a next-gen update to enable a smooth 60fps experience. Despite continuous fan demand, Sony's silence on further Bloodborne developments remains one of the most baffling decisions in the gaming world.

Yoshida theorized that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the president of FromSoftware and the creative force behind Bloodborne, might be too busy with other projects to personally oversee any updates or sequels. He suggested that Miyazaki's deep attachment to the game could be why he does not want anyone else to work on it. "I have only my personal theory to that situation. I left first-party so I don’t know what’s going on, but my theory is, you know because I remember, you know, Miyazaki-san really, really loved Bloodborne, you know, what he created. So I think he is interested, but he’s so successful and he’s so busy, so he doesn’t want, he cannot do himself, but he does not want anyone else to touch it. So that’s my theory. And the PlayStation team respect his wish. So that’s my guess, right? Theory. I am not revealing any secret information, to be clear."

Hidetaka Miyazaki has indeed been very busy since Bloodborne's release. He directed Dark Souls 3, followed by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for Activision, and then the highly acclaimed Elden Ring for Bandai Namco. The success of Elden Ring has led to the announcement of a multiplayer spin-off set to release this year. Miyazaki often sidesteps questions about Bloodborne, noting that FromSoftware does not own the intellectual property. However, last year, he acknowledged that the game could benefit from being released on more modern hardware.

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In the absence of official updates, the modding community has attempted to enhance the Bloodborne experience. However, Sony has not been supportive of these efforts. In January, well-known modder Lance McDonald announced that he had received a DMCA takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment regarding his 60fps patch for Bloodborne. Similarly, Lilith Walther, creator of Nightmare Kart and the Bloodborne PSX demake, faced a copyright claim on an old YouTube video showcasing her work.

Recent advancements in PS4 emulation have allowed fans to experience a version of Bloodborne running at 60fps on PC, thanks to the efforts of the ShadPS4 team. This development was highlighted by Digital Foundry in a video that showcased this significant breakthrough in emulation. Sony has yet to comment on these developments, despite inquiries from IGN.

With no official word on the future of Bloodborne, fans have taken it upon themselves to celebrate the game's legacy. The latest "Return to Yharnam" event, coinciding with the game's 10th anniversary, invites players to create new characters, summon co-operators and invaders, and leave messages indicating their participation in this community-driven celebration. As fans continue to enjoy and honor Bloodborne, these community events may remain the primary way to engage with the beloved game in the future.