Today, March 24, 2023, marks the eight-year launch anniversary of one the PlayStation 4’s greatest games, Bloodborne. The gothic, Lovecraftian RPG by FromSoftware defined the previous generation of gaming, and was highly influential in the videogame lexicon, as its name literally comprises half of the challenging “Soulsborne” subgenre. However, eight years after its release, Bloodborne unfortunately remains a PlayStation 4 exclusive without a PC port or PS5 remaster/remake. To mark this birthday of one of the greatest games ever made, here are eight reasons why Bloodborne deserves a remaster or remake in 2023.
Bloodborne Should Be Available on PC and PS5 Like Previous PlayStation Exclusives
Although it is highly unlikely that the Sony Interactive Entertainment-published Bloodborne will ever appear on competing Xbox or Nintendo consoles, the RPG deserves to be on more platforms than just the PlayStation 4. There are a number of other initial PlayStation-exclusive properties that were later released on PC and/or received next-gen console remakes or remasters, including The Last of Us: Part I, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Returnal, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. All of those titles were also released after Bloodborne, making it only fair that FromSoftware’s beloved title should be the next in line for a PC and PS5 version.
Related: The Last of Us Episodes Ranked
Bloodborne’s FPS and Resolution Has Room for Improvement
Graphics certainly don’t define a game’s greatness, but graphical updates can be beneficial in preserving gaming experiences for future generations. Even though Bloodborne’s visuals remain draw-droppingly stunning eight years later, the game’s 1080p, 30FPS (frames per second) limits on PS4 consoles lags behind the current generation’s 4K resolution and 60 FPS on PS5 (and even better potential graphical quality on PC).
A Remake/Remaster Would Give Players a Second Opportunity to Earn Bloodborne’s Platinum Trophy
As an achievement hunter, I fondly look back at Bloodborne as one of the proudest, most entertaining platinum trophies in my entire collection. Despite its sometimes brutal difficulty, according to PlayStation’s trophy stats, as of this writing, 6.6% of Bloodborne players have earned the game’s platinum trophy, which is an inordinately high percentage for a sizable, challenging RPG. PlayStation gamers deserve a chance to reexperience earning the Bloodborne’s platinum trophy without having to create a second account.
BluePoint Games Could Remake Bloodborne
While a remaster would certainly be sufficient, after experiencing the Demon’s Souls Remake on PS5, there is a case to be made that a Bloodborne remake might ultimately be the better way to go. The 2020 PS5 launch title remains one of the most acclaimed experiences on the console, as BluePoint Games completely rebuilt FromSoftware’s seminal 2009 PS3 exclusive Soulsborne game from the ground up, bringing the precursor RPG to a new generation of gamers.
Furthermore, since most next-gen remasters have traditionally been free downloads for previous-gen owners (which is not necessarily profitable for the developers/publishers), a remake would allow FromSoftware and Sony to capitalize on Bloodborne’s popularity, similarly to the success of The Last of Us Part I Remake. Even though I would prefer the consumer-friendly free remaster over paying full price, a Bloodborne remake might ultimately provide a “win-win” for all parties.
Game of the Generation Part II?
If Bloodborne received a remaster or remake, in all likelihood, the RPG would immediately skyrocket up the Metacritic rankings, rating among the best available experiences on PC and PS5. Similarly to 2015 counterpart The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s critically acclaimed December 2022 remaster, a Bloodborne next-gen upgrade could breathe new life into the game and would undeniably cement the title as a “game of the generation” once more, nearly a decade after launch.
Related: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next-Gen Upgrade Review | The Test of Time
Bloodborne With Haptic Feedback
Strictly speaking about a potential PS5 version, Bloodborne could utilize the DualSense controller to add a tactile component to its frenetic, challenging gameplay, giving players the opportunity to feel the rumble of gargantuan monsters, the burst of firearm parries, and the satisfying thrust of the game’s visceral attacks. Adding the DualSense’s haptic feedback would make an already amazing gaming experience even better.
Many Games Released After Bloodborne Have Been Remastered
Remakes and remasters have been very common in the current generation of gaming. Across all platforms, spanning many genres, developers, and publishers, some of the most popular games of the previous generation (and sometimes the generation before that) have sought to maintain relevance by releasing next-gen upgrades on the latest gaming hardware. Why shouldn’t Bloodborne fans get to join in on the next-gen fun too?
There Aren’t Any Reasons Against a Bloodborne Remake/Remaster
Lastly, when it comes to skeptics or naysayers who are averse to a Bloodborne remake or remaster, I simply say this: give me one good reason why. What is any possible downside to bringing Bloodborne to PC and PS5? Answer: there is none. As long as the original PS4 version remains available and no content is cut from a remake, there is no conceivable reason why Bloodborne should not be remade or remastered for the current generation of gaming.
Published: Mar 24, 2023 09:33 pm