While the PS5’s impressive specs would be great for building a new version of Yharnam (or some other new locale), there is another option that would perhaps be a better fit for the fan-favorite game.
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Bloodborne Remastered: What is Old is New Again
While Bloodborne 2 may be what many fans want, there is a solid case that should be made for remastering Bloodborne for the PS5 before diving head-first into a sequel. Even if Bloodborne ends up being backwards-compatible with the PS5, From Software could likely make several major improvements by hand-crafting a remaster of Bloodborne to truly utilize all that the PS5 has to offer. For the most part, Bloodborne ran well on the PS4, though it was not without its issues, but by remastering this beloved game, From Software has the chance to optimize it like never before, allowing the game to be enjoyed perhaps even more than it was originally.
What’s more is that there may be a subset of Bloodborne players, perhaps those playing it via PS Now, that have not touched The Old Hunters DLC, which features some crucial pieces of backstory and lore for the city of Yharnam - or at least as much as it can considering Bloodborne’s unique way of storytelling. With a remaster, From Software could easily package this DLC and all of its challenging Bloodborne bosses into one “definitive edition” as most popular games do at some point in their lifetime. This would be the perfect opportunity to introduce new players just picking up a PlayStation to this beloved gothic/Lovecraftian horror game, which bringing back old fans who want to see Yharnam again with great visual and processing improvements.
Bloodborne Definitive Edition and New Content
Where the Definitive Edition could get interesting is if From Software wanted to expand the already-existing world of Bloodborne with new content. There is still a lot of room for expansion in Yharnam and the Hunter’s Dream, and adding a new DLC to the mix could go a long way to expanding the mystical, albeit confusing, world of Yharnam. The wild and confusing endings of Bloodborne leave plenty of avenues to pursue post-game content. If From Software wanted to leave the endings as the stopping point for the series (for now), then it could do like it did with the Old Hunters and just make the new episode playable at any point during the playthrough as a new destination.
The Old Hunters focused on fleshing out the backstory of the titular Old Hunters, namely Gehrman, Lady Maria, Laurence, Willem, and Micolash. The events of the Fishing Hamlet shed light on the processes of the Byrgenwerth scholars and how cruel they could be in the name of understanding the greater powers of the universe. If a new DLC is going to be made, From Software could use this opportunity to expand the story of the Great Ones - powerful cosmic beings who are pivotal to the plot of Bloodborne. These god-like beings are introduced as the story progresses, and ultimately by the end the players are left with more questions than answers. If there was a new mid-game DLC that focused on explaining some of the lore behind the Great Ones, perhaps it could help frame the ending of the game a bit better.
Sequel vs. DLC
There is definitely a lot of pro/con when it comes to making a sequel vs. making new DLC. Obviously, there are a lot of people who want another full game set in the Bloodborne universe, which is disappointing since Bloodborne 2 currently isn’t in development. In defense of a sequel, it would allow From Software to either build upon Yharnam and create new stories for players to experience, or it could leave Yharnam behind and introduce players to a brand-new setting filled with fresh new horrors. In addition to this, it will be great for both new and returning players as it will be a fresh experience (granted with how die-hard Bloodborne’s fanbase is it’s hard to imagine that picking it up again would be out of the question).
However, doing a remaster with a new DLC gives players both new and old a chance to experience the game that really hooked so many players in a new way. Not only will a remaster do a great service to Yharnam (just imagine that beautiful, haunting city with next-gen graphics), it can help flesh out the story more to give more context to the events unfolding through the game. There would be no reason why From Software couldn’t add more to the base game even, since it would already be remastering it. It would also be a great way to fix some of the bigger issues with Bloodborne on PS4 since the PS5 could in theory handle the game a lot better. Giving this beloved game DLC would once again breathe life into Yharnam, bringing back the fanbase once again to join the Great Hunt.
Bloodborne’s fanbase has been dying for any sort of update regarding the future of From Software’s hit Gothic franchise. While the studio has been silent regarding plans, it definitely has several options that it could pursue to bring Bloodborne back into the spotlight. For one, it could give fans the sequel they desperately desire. On the other hand, From Software could instead work on remastering Bloodborne for the PS5 to fully utilize the new tech Sony has to offer.
If a remaster is in the works, it should come with some updated story and even a full-fledged DLC that could expand the story of Bloodborne even further. This could be a happy middle-ground between die-hard fans who want a sequel, and those who feel that the original was a perfect standalone title. Regardless, news about the future of Bloodborne will likely have to wait until after Elden Ring, so fans will just have to be patient.
Bloodborne is available now for PS4.
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