Bloodborne on PC: How to Play FromSoftware’s Classic on Your Desktop
Despite remaining officially exclusive to PlayStation consoles, Bloodborne is now playable on PC thanks to the ShadPS4 emulator and a dedicated fan-led remastering project. This unofficial port is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, offering PC players a potentially superior visual experience to even the current-generation console versions.
The Allure of Bloodborne
Bloodborne, developed by FromSoftware, is widely considered one of the best games of the last decade, garnering a devoted fanbase. Despite its popularity, the title has remained exclusive to the PlayStation 4, with no native port taking advantage of the improved hardware of the PlayStation 5.
Unofficial Port via ShadPS4 and the Bloodborne Remaster Project
PC players can now experience Bloodborne through the ShadPS4 emulator and the Bloodborne Remaster Project. This project, led by modder ‘fromsoftserve’, aims to remaster the PS4 classic with graphical improvements, and enhancements. The latest version, 0.99.2, significantly improves the game’s visual fidelity.
What’s Latest in Version 0.99.2?
The 0.99.2 update focuses on enhancing the game’s lighting and texture quality. It removes predefined lights within the emulator to improve dynamic lighting, a key feature of the unofficial remaster. The update modifies the game’s graphical configuration files (gparams) – controlling elements like colors, antialiasing, fog effects, and lighting – to create an artistic direction more faithful to the original game, and in some cases, surpassing the graphics of the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions.
Performance and Visual Enhancements
Recent advancements with the ShadPS4 emulator have allowed Bloodborne to run at resolutions exceeding 4K at 60 frames per second on PC, a significant improvement over the original console release’s 1080p at 30fps Digital Foundry. To achieve this performance, it’s recommended to enable FIFO v-sync and async logging within ShadPS4’s game-specific settings. Increasing the emulator’s DRAM allocation to 6,000MB and boosting the v-blank frequency to 9,999Hz is also advised for resolutions higher than 1080p.
Limitations and Future Prospects
Currently, the PC port lacks online functionality, meaning players cannot summon allies or access Chalice Dungeons. Still, developers anticipate that online features will be implemented soon as the ShadPS4 emulator continues to evolve.
Legal Concerns
The project’s future remains uncertain. Following reports of Sony issuing cease and desist letters to modders working on projects inspired by their intellectual property GamingBible, questions arise about whether the Bloodborne remaster will face similar legal challenges. As of now, development continues.
Where to Download
The latest version of the project is available for download from the modder ‘fromsoftserve’s profile on Nexus Mods.