| Bloodborne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | FromSoftware[a] |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Director(s) | Hidetaka Miyazaki |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Designer(s) | Kazuhiro Hamatani |
| Programmer(s) | Jun Ito |
| Writer(s) | Hidetaka Miyazaki |
| Composer(s) |
|
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 4 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Bloodborne[b] is a 2015 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. The game follows a Hunter through the decrepit Gothic, Victorian-era–inspired city of Yharnam, whose inhabitants are afflicted with a blood-borne disease which transforms the residents, called Yharnamites, into horrific beasts. Attempting to find the source of the plague, the player's character unravels the city's mysteries while fighting beasts and cosmic beings.
Bloodborne is played from a third-person perspective. Players control a customizable protagonist, and the gameplay is focused on strategic weapons-based combat and exploration. Players battle varied enemies while using items such as trick weapons and firearms, exploring different locations, interacting with non-player characters, and unraveling the city's mysteries. Bloodborne began development in 2012 under the working title of Project Beast. Bearing many similarities to FromSoftware's Dark Souls series, Bloodborne was inspired by the literary works of authors H. P. Lovecraft and Bram Stoker and the architectural design of real-world locations in countries such as Romania and the Czech Republic.
Bloodborne has been cited as among the greatest video games ever made, with praise directed at its gameplay, atmosphere, sound design, Lovecraftian themes and interconnected world design. Some criticism was directed at its technical performance at launch, which was improved with post-release updates. The downloadable content The Old Hunters was released in November 2015. The game had sold 7.46 million copies by February 2022. Some related media and adaptations have also been released, including a card game, board game and comic book series.
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