Bloodborne sequel dreams hit another wall as former PlayStation boss speaks out

For the better part of a decade, RPG fans have been clamoring for another chance at enjoying one of the most era-defining games of a generation gone by: Bloodborne.

Elden Ring before Elden Ring, albeit with a richer gothic setting rather than all-out fantasy, Bloodborne was sadly left in the past as a PlayStation 4 exclusive.

No PC port, no PS5 upgrade, and no remake in the pipeline, it's one of the very few brilliant titles that has been locked to one platform in one era, never to see the light of day again.

Aside from a handful of wicked fan-made ports, the second coming of Bloodborne has been little more than hopes and murmurs, especially with FromSoftware moving on to new series like The Duskbloods.

But a Bloodborne sequel isn't impossible, despite PlayStation Chief Shuhei Yoshida claiming that it was a 'complete mystery' as to why the world has never been expanded upon or remade.

Now, former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden has offered some rather disappointing insight into why Bloodborne might never get the sequel fans have been desperately hoping for, and it sounds like there's a lot more standing in the way than players might realise.

Former PlayStation boss explains why Bloodborne 2 might never happen

Speaking during an appearance on The Trophy Room podcast, Layden was asked about the possibility of bringing Bloodborne back, whether through a remake or an entirely new instalment.

While he was quick to praise the original game and the work Sony did alongside FromSoftware, he also highlighted a rather significant problem.

"There's a lot of involved rights associated with it," Layden explained.

He went on to point out that Sony, FromSoftware, and FromSoftware's parent company (Kadokawa Corporation) are all involved, meaning any potential project would require everyone to agree before things could move forward.

"I think just getting everyone to sign off on everything is probably the biggest challenge there," he added.

In other words, even if one party wanted to revisit Bloodborne, that wouldn't necessarily be enough to make it happen.

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It's a particularly frustrating situation for fans, especially considering just how much interest there still is in the franchise. After all, Bloodborne remains one of PlayStation's most beloved exclusives, and a modernised version would almost certainly attract plenty of attention.

Layden's comments don't necessarily mean Bloodborne 2 is impossible, though. Rather, they suggest that getting all the companies involved on the same page could prove to be a considerable challenge.

It's also worth remembering that these are Layden's observations, rather than an official announcement from Sony or FromSoftware. There has been no confirmation that a sequel, remake, or remaster is currently in development.

Interestingly, Layden also discussed the PlayStation 6 during the same podcast appearance, sharing his thoughts on what Sony should consider when planning its next console generation. However, nothing in the discussion amounts to an official PS6 announcement or confirmation of its specifications.

For now, Bloodborne fans might have to keep waiting. And given that the original game launched back in 2015, that's probably not the news anyone wanted to hear.

Still, there's always a chance the companies involved could eventually reach an agreement. Just don't start booking your return trip to Yharnam quite yet.