Lance McDonald on a Bloodborne PC port - “Japan Studio had a build of the game that was running on Windows 7 when they were shut down” (Tweet thread)

[Alek]

Yeah I mean it's not uncommon that game developers build a game on PC early on in a project and then it never sees the light of day on that platform.

I think this type of thing is almost always more of a strategy question, than a technical one.

 

[Doomguy Fieri]

Lance is the only person I trust with Bloodborne leaks. Anything he writes I consider gospel unless it's officially refuted, and even that has to be more than a "no comment." I very much believe Sony knows that Bloodborne PC would be a phenomenon and is holding off on development/release until some very lean window in their first party release schedule.

 

[Gavalanche]

the game runs like shit. the game needs a port

Click to shrink...

It does not run like shit. It could run better for sure, but as someone who has played the game a thousand times, it does not run like shit. Thats extreme exaggeration.

 

[Desodeset]

May be Bloodborne for PS5/PC or Demon's Souls PC will be an appetizer for the next SIE-From Software collaboration (if there is such a thing).

 

[SilentObserver]

It's bizarre that we saw the massive success of Elden Ring on PC and also the success of Sony's PC ports. And here's a game that unite both sides of this story... just sitting there.

Click to shrink...

If Elden Ring had any impact on Sony's decision regarding Bloodborne, we would not be seeing the effects of that, this year.
I know time is wonky these days, but Elden Ring released just a few months ago lol

 

[PlanetSmasher]

the game runs like shit. the game needs a port

Click to shrink...

People exaggerate so fucking much about this it's honestly embarrassing. There are so many games out there that run INFINITELY WORSE than Bloodborne does.

Y'all really just wanna keep paying Sony over and over again for shit you already own, huh?

 

[Mocha Joe]

seems like the easiest slam dunk in the world, but here we are

Click to shrink...

Sony re-releases fuckin Morbius back into theaters over memes but Bloodborne never gets a patch for PS4 Pro, PS5 or a PC port which people want unironically 🤣

 

[Kemono]

It'll surely release on pc someday in the future but i don't think it'll be an updated PS4 version.

I'm sure after the success of Demon's Souls remake Sony'll just wait for the PS6 launch to release a full fat Bloodborne remake from Bluepoint. Then a few years after that a PC port of the Remake will release.

 

[lunanto]

I think game is too good for it not have a remaster never.

 

[Zera Bloodwinter]

Breaks my damn heart.

 

[Ferrs]

Windows 7 though? Especially by the time Japan Studio got shut down in 2021?

 

[DieH@rd]

What's bluepoint doing?

Click to shrink...

They are working on "original content".

That most likely means they are not working on a remaster of a old game. They could be working on sequel to some older game, or they are simply working on a new IP but have not worded it as such when they talked about their future game.

 

[The Lord of Cereal]

I'm gonna preface this by saying I know nothing of development, but this sounds like Sony Japan just had like a development/debugging version of the game on Windows and not necessarily a version meant for release?

Like isn't a lot of game development done on PC and then eventually ported over to the console? Especially since this is a Windows 7 version, it makes sense to me that they'd have started developing the game on PCs of the time before there were any PS4 dev kits or something since the game was definitely being worked on before the PS4 dev kits would have been finalized…

 

[Gavalanche]

It'll surely release on pc someday in the future but i don't think it'll be an updated PS4 version.

I'm sure after the success of Demon's Souls remake Sony'll just wait for the PS6 launch to release a full fat Bloodborne remake from Bluepoint. Then a few years after that a PC port of the Remake will release.

Click to shrink...

Its unlikely Bluepoint is doing remakes anymore.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

I'm gonna preface this by saying I know nothing of development, but this sounds like Sony Japan just had like a development/debugging version of the game on Windows and not necessarily a version meant for release?

Like isn't a lot of game development done on PC and then eventually ported over to the console? Especially since this is a Windows 7 version, it makes sense to me that they'd have started developing the game on PCs of the time before there were any PS4 dev kits or something since the game was definitely being worked on before the PS4 dev kits would have been finalized…

Click to shrink...

Entirely possible, yeah. Windows 7 is a pretty weird platform for a PC port when Japan Studio shut down LAST YEAR.

But for an in-the-works version of a game that came out in 2015? Easily believable.

 

[Deleted member 16876]

Reddit - Dive into anything

www.reddit.com

Click to shrink...

Grubb needs to go away. That's all.

He knows nothing.

 

[HardRojo]

Since Demon's Souls has yet to come out on PC, I wonder if Sony is in a weird place because releasing both Demon's Souls and Bloodborne on PC close to each other would definitely make of those 2 underperform saleswise.

 

[SofNascimento]

If Elden Ring had any impact on Sony's decision regarding Bloodborne, we would not be seeing the effects of that, this year.
I know time is wonky these days, but Elden Ring released just a few months ago lol

Click to shrink...

That's true, but the appeal of Souls titles are not new. It's no accident that Sony decided to remake Demon's Soul after all.

 

[naw]

It does not run like shit. It could run better for sure, but as someone who has played the game a thousand times, it does not run like shit. Thats extreme exaggeration.

Click to shrink...

i don't think it's an exaggeration. the 30fps and bad framepacing, combined with the blurry 1080p resolution just makes the game not fun to play on. i played bloodborne for the first time 2 months ago and quit strictly because the performance was so bad. i'm not saying the game needs a full on remake, but it needs a 60fps patch at the bare minimum. to me, it is unplayable

 

[Kemono]

Its unlikely Bluepoint is doing remakes anymore.

Click to shrink...

It doesn't need to be Bluepoint but i would wait how successful their new IP turns out before closing the door on remakes.

Also they could split into 2 studios. One for new IPs and one for AAA remakes. Especially with the PS6 many games from the PS4 generation will come into the 2 gens ago time where a Remake of a popular game could make sense.

 

[Gavalanche]

i don't think it's an exaggeration. the 30fps and bad framepacing, combined with the blurry 1080p resolution just makes the game not fun to play on. i played bloodborne for the first time 2 months ago and quit strictly because the performance was so bad. i'm not saying the game needs a full on remake, but it needs a 60fps patch at the bare minimum. to me, it is unplayable

Click to shrink...

Unplayable yet plenty of people play it fine?

Its fine for you not to like it, but to call it unplayable is a little... extreme.

 

[Fudus]

To me it feels like Sony is prioritizing PC ports of games with franchise potential.
So unless a BB2 or a BB movie is in the cards then I don't see a PC port being given any priority

 

[Mobius 1]

I don't understand how any of this is surprising. The game was developed on a PC, for a PS4 that is also a x86 platform. Of course there was a PC build running. Of course it could have been flagged to run at 60fps.

The real question is whether Sony has any intention of investing the money to bring the game back, invest in QA and marketing and support for it. These are not negligible expenses. It looks like the answer to that so far is no.

 

[LumberPanda]

Reddit - Dive into anything

www.reddit.com

Click to shrink...

Beyond the fact that he's confirmed it's his own speculation, it doesn't make sense in the first place.

Dark Souls 1, Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin (separating it out since it's the PS4/XBO version), Dark Souls 3, Sekiro, and Elden Ring all made it to PC. Demon's Souls' code made its way, fairly easily, to PS5 which uses modified current-gen PC hardware. There's no way they fucked up one project that much just randomly. It even uses the same engine as all those projects (we know thanks to Lance) and has many of the same bugs and quirks as Dark Souls 3.

 

[Gavalanche]

It doesn't need to be Bluepoint but i would wait how successful their new IP turns out before closing the door on remakes.

Also they could split into 2 studios. One for new IPs and one for AAA remakes. Especially with the PS6 many games from the PS4 generation will come into the 2 gens ago time where a Remake of a popular game could make sense.

Click to shrink...

For sure, anything could happen. Yet they seem really excited to do something new and to move on, and it makes sense with their technical wizardy they would eventually want to work on something that is their own. I think people just need to allow BP to do what they want and not immediately go for the remake scenario. They shouldn't be the go to all the time.

 

[Prelude]

I mean, people say that thing about "spaghetti code/the engine is built around the *console* too deeply" about any old game that hasn't been ported anywhere. It's just one of those forum poster things.

 

[Deleted member 16876]

The idea that sony couldn't patch it was always dumb. If a modder did it then so can they. They know the demand is there.

IMO sony is prob looking at a remaster or remake at this point.

View: https://twitter.com/jeffgrubb/status/1572589299626803200?s=21&t=d0BpIntIkOP9rvEt9CTGGQ

Click to shrink...

lol at this...

Same thing everytime. Says something, people create narrative, then says its speculation...

 

[Cassius Bright]

I think it's a timing thing with Sony. No doubt when they release it, it will be a big deal and they are likely looking for the perfect window for it.

Click to shrink...

This is my belief too.

 

[apocat]

A Demon's Souls style top to bottom remake of Bloodborne on PS5 would be incredible.

Click to shrink...

I would honestly just prefer an updated frame rate for the PS5. There is no need for any changes beyond that. The game still looks great, and I don't think it would benefit from any aestethic changes, which would be inevitable with a remake.

 

[Ovvv]

The idea that sony couldn't patch it was always dumb. If a modder did it then so can they. They know the demand is there.

IMO sony is prob looking at a remaster or remake at this point.


lol at this...

Same thing everytime. Says something, people create narrative, then says its speculation...

Click to shrink...

Apparently people who listened to the podcast or whatever said it was speculation from the jump.

 

[Kazuma Kiryu]

View: https://twitter.com/jeffgrubb/status/1572589299626803200?s=21&t=d0BpIntIkOP9rvEt9CTGGQ

Click to shrink...

 

[Glio]

After some weeks of Metroid Prime HD, Zelda remasters, Metal Gear remasters and Silent Hill, this is here just for tradition

 

[SilentObserver]

That's true, but the appeal of Souls titles are not new. It's no accident that Sony decided to remake Demon's Soul after all.

Click to shrink...

I agree.

Making Demon's Souls Remake a launch title was one of the best decisions SIE has ever made.
I welcome more Bloodborne.

 

[Liquid]

The real question is whether Sony has any intention of investing the money to bring the game back, invest in QA and marketing and support for it. These are not negligible expenses. It looks like the answer to that so far is no.

Click to shrink...

Finally a good take. I hate that Lance always says: oh it's just two lines of code. People ignores that there needs to be QA to check if those two lines of code are not breaking other parts of the game and if they are, they need to fix those. It's not a work easy to be done and especially not worth it if there's no plans to continue the franchise.

 

[Deleted member 16876]

Apparently people who listened to the podcast or whatever said it was speculation from the jump.

Click to shrink...

I see.

In this case I really gotta wonder, how did this idea even get thought up? Especially with how we have proof of the game running 60 fps by Lance's mod, yet somehow Grubb thought this was likely.

To be honest people share the same blame for this idea spreading and I wish it would stop. It's stupid.

 

[MZZ]

Bloodborne entered a break glass in case of emergency for Sony.

At this point they can wait on it and have someone do a remastering of it when needed but its not a priority. (Bluepoint and Nixxes)

 

[TheMoon]

Reddit - Dive into anything

www.reddit.com

Click to shrink...

it's cute when someone still default thinks the OG devs are involved in ports these days

 

[Forgiven Empathy]

You must accept your lack of PC port and 60FPS, be freed from the night.

 

[Mocha Joe]

After some weeks of Metroid Prime HD, Zelda remasters, Metal Gear remasters and Silent Hill, this is here just for tradition

Click to shrink...

The Silent Hill projects are definitely a thing, we have already seen proof of it a couple times now.

 

[Precious Tritium]

I will die on the hill that there is a 0% chance we are not getting a PS5 / PC version of this game. It would make so much money on PC right now.

They just remade Demon's Souls which is about a third as popular and are putting everything else that was popular on PS4 on PC, it's going to happen one way or another. It's likely lower priority since there isn't an active team internally that "owns" (oversees) the code and would likely take more time to get it up and running logistically vs. Spider-Man, Uncharted 4, etc.

There is always the chance that once Demon's Souls is on PC they wouldn't want to do Bloodborne unless it's a remake as well. That's a good way to piss off hardcore fans of the original no matter how faithful it is, so seems like logical route for Sony to go.

 

[Faceless_Caesar]

The real question is whether Sony has any intention of investing the money to bring the game back, invest in QA and marketing and support for it. These are not negligible expenses. It looks like the answer to that so far is no.

Click to shrink...

They could just patch the existing game for much less than they would spend redoing the entire game to sell it for $70. It would also require far less marketing spend as word of mouth alone will do a lot of heavy lifting.

 

[BrunOz]

A PC port is a PC port even in a dream.

 

[D O T]

you have wonder what was Sony smoking when they closed Japan Studio.

 

[snausages]

I don't really get the point being made that they are not continuing the 'franchise', so no real reason to re-release Bloodborne. It was a decently successful game but is part of a series of titles which are becoming the biggest RPGs in the world. It would be an obvious win from what I can see that would be worth the QA effort to get out.

We also don't really need a Bloodborne 'franchise', it's a very nice one-and-done kinda game. But would be nice to have it scaled up and improved a bit and Elden Ring would lead to some renewed interest in checking it out

(the word 'franchise' always reminds me of MacDonalds lol)

 

[coolasj19]

The fact that they brought Demons Souls back mana that one day Bloodborne will be back. Maybe at the PS6 launch. Wherever Bluepoint isn't busy I guess. Anyone can port it but I bet they want it to be an event or to be able to sell it again.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

you have wonder what was Sony smoking when they closed Japan Studio.

Click to shrink...

Probably the papers showing how Japan Studio games sold like hot garbage compared to what their Western studios were selling.

 

[Tuco Benedicto Pacifico]

The real question is whether Sony has any intention of investing the money to bring the game back, invest in QA and marketing and support for it. These are not negligible expenses. It looks like the answer to that so far is no.

Click to shrink...

I mean, the thing is: they actually kinda ARE, proportionally to any realistic projection of potential sales.
We are talking about the kind of game that if reasonably priced for a late port (29-39$) could easily grind 1million+ sales on Steam in days.
Potentially even a lot more than that, if stars align.

 

[Lord Fanny]

It was running side by side with the new Silent Hill

 

[Bizkit Krueger]

I mean, the thing is: they actually kinda ARE, proportionally to any realistic projection of potential sales.

Click to shrink...

yeah, a pc port alone would print money so I don't see that being a roadblock at all

 

[Fudus]

I don't really get the point being made that they are not continuing the 'franchise', so no real reason to re-release Bloodborne.

Click to shrink...

Because that's the logic that drives like 95% of decision making in these mega corps.