Today marks a significant milestone as Bloodborne celebrates its 10th anniversary, and fans are commemorating the occasion with another "Return to Yharnam" community event. FromSoftware's PlayStation 4 masterpiece, launched on March 24, 2015, not only solidified the developer's status as one of the greatest in the industry but also garnered both critical and commercial success. Given its popularity, many anticipated a sequel or at least a remaster akin to the Dark Souls series, yet nothing has materialized. The persistent silence from Sony regarding a follow-up, whether it be a current-gen remaster, a full sequel, or a next-gen update to support 60fps gameplay, continues to baffle and frustrate fans.

Earlier this year, some insight into this mystery emerged. Shuhei Yoshida, a PlayStation legend, shared his theory on the absence of new Bloodborne content after leaving Sony. In an interview with Kinda Funny Games, Yoshida clarified that his thoughts were merely personal and not based on any insider knowledge. He noted, "Bloodborne has always been the most asked thing... And people wonder why we haven’t really done anything, even an update or a remaster. Should be easy, right? The company is known for doing so many remasters, right, some people get frustrated."

Yoshida suggested that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the head of FromSoftware and creator of Bloodborne, might be the reason for the lack of updates. He speculated that Miyazaki, deeply attached to his creation, is too busy with other successful projects to work on it himself and might not want others to touch it. "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."

Indeed, Miyazaki has been occupied with directing multiple projects, including Dark Souls 3, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the blockbuster Elden Ring. Additionally, a multiplayer spin-off of Elden Ring is slated for release this year. Miyazaki often sidesteps questions about Bloodborne, citing that FromSoftware does not own the IP. However, he did acknowledge last year that the game could benefit from being released on more modern hardware.

In the absence of official updates, modders have attempted to enhance the Bloodborne experience. However, Sony has not been supportive of these efforts. Lance McDonald, creator of a well-known 60fps mod, received a takedown notice from Sony Interactive Entertainment, compelling him to remove links to his patch. Similarly, Lilith Walther, the mind behind Nightmare Kart (originally Bloodborne Kart) and the Bloodborne PSX demake, faced a copyright claim on an old YouTube video of her demake.

Recent advancements in PS4 emulation have allowed tech enthusiasts to achieve a quasi-remaster on PC, with Digital Foundry showcasing how Bloodborne can now be played from start to finish at 60fps using the ShadPS4 emulator. This development might have prompted Sony's stringent response, though Sony has yet to comment on the matter.

With no official updates forthcoming, Bloodborne enthusiasts continue to take matters into their own hands, organizing community events like the ongoing "Return to Yharnam." On this 10th anniversary, fans are encouraged to start new characters, engage in cooperative and competitive gameplay, and leave in-game messages to signify their participation in this community celebration. As it stands, such fan-driven initiatives might be the only way for the Bloodborne community to keep the spirit of the game alive.

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