The gaming community is buzzing with excitement and speculation following the inclusion of Bloodborne in PlayStation’s 30th anniversary video. Dive in to explore the latest updates on the game and the newest enhancements to the PS5.
PlayStation 30th Anniversary Ends with a Bang
Ending the Anniversary Trailer with Bloodborne
The iconic PS4 exclusive, Bloodborne, concluded PlayStation’s 30th anniversary trailer, accompanied by the caption, “It’s about persistence.” While the video showcased other legendary titles like Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, and Helldivers 2, it was Bloodborne that captured fans' imaginations, fueling rumors of a possible remaster or sequel.Set to a creative cover of The Cranberries’ "Dreams," the trailer highlighted PlayStation’s most cherished games, each with thematic captions. For instance, Final Fantasy 7 was tagged with “It’s about fantasy,” and Resident Evil with “It’s about fear.” Yet, it was the closing shot of Bloodborne, labeled with “It’s about persistence,” that sparked widespread speculation among fans about a potential Bloodborne 2 or a remastered version with enhanced 60fps and graphics.
Despite the absence of concrete details about Bloodborne before and after the trailer's release, fan speculation has been rampant. Previous instances, like PlayStation Italia’s Instagram post on August 17 showcasing iconic game locations, have similarly stirred excitement without resulting in official announcements. The trailer's ending with Bloodborne might simply be a nod to its challenging gameplay, emphasizing persistence rather than teasing new developments.
PS5’s Latest Update Allowing UI Customization
In celebration of PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, Sony introduced a significant update for the PS5, featuring a nostalgic PS1 boot-up sequence and customizable themes inspired by past consoles. The update includes themes spanning from the 30th Anniversary to PS1-PS4, enabling PS5 users to immerse themselves in the nostalgia of their PlayStation journey.
With this update, PS5 owners can personalize the home screen’s design and sound effects, reflecting various PlayStation eras. To access these features, users need to navigate to PS5’s Settings, select “PlayStation 30th Anniversary,” and then choose “Appearance and Sound” to customize their console’s home screen.
The gaming community has warmly received this update, particularly the revival of the PS4’s user interface. However, the limited-time nature of these customizations has left some fans wishing for a permanent option, with some even willing to pay for it. Speculation is rife that Sony might be testing the waters for a broader range of UI customization options on the PS5 in the future.
Sony Developing a New Handheld Console
The excitement didn't stop at the PS5 update. On December 2, Digital Foundry confirmed Bloomberg’s November 25 report about Sony’s development of a new handheld console designed to play PS5 games. Although still in early stages, Sony aims to challenge the portable gaming market currently led by the Nintendo Switch.
John Linneman, Senior Staff Writer at Digital Foundry, shared, “We actually heard about this handheld some months ago from a couple of sources specifically. 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 at Digital Foundry also noted that with the rise of smartphone gaming, the introduction of new handheld devices by Microsoft and Sony makes strategic sense. These devices would complement rather than compete directly with mobile gaming.
While Microsoft has openly expressed interest in the handheld gaming space, Sony remains more reserved. Despite Digital Foundry’s confirmation, it may be years before we see these new portable consoles from Microsoft and Sony, as they must balance affordability with superior graphics to compete with Nintendo.
Meanwhile, Nintendo is not standing still. In May 2024, Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo’s president, announced on Twitter(X) that more details about the successor to the Nintendo Switch would be revealed within the fiscal year, keeping them a step ahead in the portable gaming race.
