Speculation about Bloodborne has surged once again after its feature in PlayStation's 30th anniversary video. Dive into the latest updates about the game and the newest enhancements for the PS5.
PlayStation 30th Anniversary Ends with a Bang
Ending the Anniversary Trailer with Bloodborne
The beloved PS4 exclusive, Bloodborne, was prominently featured in PlayStation's 30th anniversary trailer, accompanied by the caption, "It's about persistence." While the video also showcased other iconic games, the inclusion of Bloodborne sparked intense speculation about a potential remaster or sequel among fans.Set to a creative rendition of "Dreams" by The Cranberries, the anniversary trailer highlighted PlayStation's most celebrated titles, including Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Helldivers 2, and more. Each game clip was accompanied by a thematic caption, such as "It's about fantasy" for Final Fantasy 7 and "It's about fear" for Resident Evil. However, Bloodborne's placement at the trailer's end, paired with the "It's about persistence" phrase, fueled rumors of an imminent Bloodborne 2 or a remastered version with enhanced 60fps and updated graphics.
Despite the absence of concrete information surrounding Bloodborne before and after the trailer's release, fans continue to speculate. A previous post from PlayStation Italia's Instagram account on August 17, showcasing iconic game locations, had similarly triggered fan excitement, though no official announcements followed. While the trailer's ending with Bloodborne may simply acknowledge its status as one of PlayStation's most challenging games, requiring player persistence, the speculation persists.
PS5’s Latest Update Allowing UI Customization
In celebration of PlayStation's 30th anniversary, Sony released a new update for the PS5, introducing a limited-time PS1 boot-up sequence and customizable themes inspired by past consoles. The update features themes spanning the 30th Anniversary and from PS1 to PS4, enabling PS5 owners to relive the nostalgia of their PlayStation journey.
With this update, PS5 users can now customize their home screen's design and sound effects to mimic those of previous consoles. To access these features, download the update and navigate to the PS5's Settings, then select "PlayStation 30th Anniversary." From there, choose "Appearance and Sound" to tailor your home screen's background and sound effects to your favorite PS console.
Fans have warmly welcomed this update, particularly the return of the PS4's user interface, though its limited-time availability has sparked disappointment. Some are even willing to pay for a permanent version, while others speculate that Sony might be testing the waters for future full-scale UI customization on the PS5.
Sony Developing a New Handheld Console
The speculation didn't stop with the PS5 update. On December 2, Digital Foundry corroborated Bloomberg's November 25 report about Sony's development of a new handheld console for PS5 games. Though still in the early stages, Sony aims to enter the portable gaming market, currently dominated by the Nintendo Switch.
"We actually heard about this handheld some months ago from a couple of sources specifically," said John Linneman, Senior Staff Writer at Digital Foundry. "We’re not in the business of leaking things, but it’s interesting that this finally, sort of, started to make its rounds because it just sort of confirmed what we had seen and heard off the record."
The panelists noted that both Microsoft and Sony venturing into portable gaming is a strategic move, given the rise of smartphone gaming. They believe that their upcoming handheld devices can coexist with mobile platforms.
While Microsoft has openly expressed interest in developing a handheld gaming device, Sony remains silent on the matter. Despite Digital Foundry's confirmation, it may be years before we see these portable consoles from Microsoft and Sony, as they must create affordable yet graphically superior devices to compete with Nintendo.
Meanwhile, Nintendo is already advancing in the portable gaming sector. In May 2024, Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo's president, announced via Twitter (X) that they would reveal more details about the Nintendo Switch's successor within the current fiscal year.
