Hey Sony, it's time for Bloodborne to come to PC
Let PC gamers into Yharnam!
Recently, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan confirmed that Days Gone and other PlayStation exclusives will be coming to PC in the near future. As you might expect, this lit up the PC gaming community with excitement, with many expressing interest in the games that may be coming soon.
Many are hoping for the arrival of the award-winning God of War, while others are hoping for titles like Marvel's Spider-Man or Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. As the potential wave of PS4 exclusive releases on PC looms, though, I think that no PS4 title deserves to be on the platform more than FromSoftware's Bloodborne, the studio's 2015 Dark Souls-style offshoot that took the Souls fanbase by storm with its horror-style atmosphere and aggression-focused combat. Here's why.
If you build it, players will come
The biggest reason why I believe Bloodborne should come to PC is that it's practically guaranteed to sell extremely well on the platform. The Dark Souls community is very active on PC, with thousands of people playing Dark Souls Remastered, Dark Souls III, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice daily according to Steam Charts data. There's no doubt that these players would dive into Bloodborne, happy to finally be able to experience Bloodborne's unique aggression-focused take on the Souls formula.
Related: Why Playstation bringing more games to PC proves Xbox had the right approach all along
The player counts make it clear that the Souls player base is dedicated to FromSoftware's games, and that means that FromSoftware and Sony would make some serious money by bringing Bloodborne to PC. Give the game support for up to 4K resolution and at least 60 FPS, release it on Steam, and watch profits rack up.
It's not selling consoles anymore
Secondly, it's important to note that while Bloodborne was originally positioned as a system-seller exclusive for the PS4, it's no longer fulfilling that role. Selling the last-gen PS4 is no longer a priority for Sony with the release and success of the next-gen PS5, and the Souls game that's helping to sell that console is Demon's Souls. Therefore, there's really no incentive not to bring Bloodborne to PC in 2021 or beyond. There are no tangible benefits to keeping Bloodborne exclusive, and all Sony would be doing is leaving lots of money on the table.
It would tide players over until Elden Ring
Finally, having Bloodborne available on Steam would give PC players something new to play while they wait for FromSoftware's next action RPG, Elden Ring. At the time of writing, we've seen and heard next to nothing about the game since its E3 2019 trailer. The ravenous hype for Elden Ring would undoubtedly drive sales of Bloodborne in the interim.
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As a result of the silence from FromSoftware regarding Elden Ring, many speculate that the game could be several years away from releasing, and may even be going through some development issues. Therefore, having Bloodborne on PC would help make the long wait for the game a little easier for hardcore Souls fans on the platform, much like the Demon's Souls remake does for players in the PlayStation ecosystem.
There are strong Soulslikes such as Mortal Shell and Nioh 2 to play on PC, and they're great games. However, nobody nails the Souls format quite like the studio that created it, and Bloodborne would provide that experience while players look forward to Elden Ring.
Your thoughts
What do you think? Do you agree with me that Bloodborne should release on PC? Let me know. Also, check out our list of the best PC games for recommendations on what to play if you're a PC player.
If you've played all of FromSoftware's games and are looking for something new to play while waiting for Elden Ring (or Bloodborne), I highly recommend Nioh 2: The Complete Edition, which includes both the base game and the DLC. While it may not be as good as FromSoftware's own Souls-style games, it comes very close. It's definitely worth the $50 it costs.
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).