Summary

• There is a lack of a Bloodborne sequel due to exclusivity and ownership issues.
• Graceborne brings Bloodborne's aesthetic and gameplay to Elden Ring.
• Fans may have to settle for the Graceborne mod as the closest thing to Bloodborne 2.

FromSoftware has been quiet about any possible Bloodborne projects, even after the successful release of Elden Ring. Despite being a PlayStation 4 exclusive game, Bloodborne has become a popular, cult classic that may not have the sales of either Elden Ring or the Dark Souls series but does have strong name recognition. Still, with the exclusivity of the title and with it being close to ten years since Bloodborne's initial release, a sequel is unlikely any time soon unless Bluepoint Games feels like doing another remake.

Bluepoint Games has already worked on remaking a FromSoftware title, having remade Demon Souls for the PS5.

Despite FromSoftware doing very little with the Bloodborne IP since the release of the first game and its one and only expansion, the grim, gothic aesthetic has been the inspiration of many other titles, especially in the Soulslike genre. Examples include titles like Thymesia and Lies of P, continuing the legacy of Bloodborne's art style while bringing their own takes on the genre. This legacy has now extended to the Elden Ring community and a new mod that seeks to scratch the Bloodborne itch while fans wait for a sequel that may never come.

The Elden Ring Crossover Inspired By Bloodborne

Graceborne Is Completely Free

With Elden Ring being FromSoftware's latest Soulsborne project, it makes sense to use it as a base to bring ideas to life with total conversion mods. Graceborne has taken this opportunity to bring Bloodborne's grim aesthetic to the Lands Between, making many changes to Elden Ring to give players a look as to what a sequel to the PlayStation exclusive could look like. Graceborne is currently in its alpha state and requires that Elden Ring be downgraded to its 1.10 version (although this will likely be amended in future).

Elden Ring has received many patches to balance weapons for PvP.

Graceborne does a lot of work in order to make Elden Ring fit with Bloodborne's more grim artstyle. It uses a reshader to make the lighting more dull and dark, like a gothic horror movie, and replaces a plethora of models so that enemies emulate the grim, eldritch abominations that Bloodborne is known for. This all gives Graceborne an entirely different feel to Elden Ring, despite the world and objectives practically remaining the same as the vanilla version of the game.

One of the most impressive parts of the mod is that the music has also been changed to sound like it came straight out of Bloodborne. It particularly shines during the boss fights, and when paired with the new models for these enemies, the fights seem more like a desperate duel against gothic, horror villains that came from the mind of Lovecraft, rather than climatic battles against demi-gods. For the most part, the boss mechanics remain the same, although this could change in the future with a beta or full release.

Graceborne's Gameplay Gives Players An Idea Of What Bloodborne 2 Could Look Like

It Scratches A Nearly Ten Year Itch

Not only have both the visuals and audio of Elden Ring been changed to fit in with the moody tone of Bloodborne, but the gameplay has been changed, too. From a cosmetic standpoint, players now have new armor sets to choose from to look more gothic and Victorian, rather than a medieval fantasy aesthetic, but that's not all the mod adds. New armaments with Bloodborne's cool trick weapon design have been added, and they have the right animations, too, so players can at least pretend they're playing Bloodborne on a PC.

Further gameplay changes have been added to make Elden Ring the new Bloodborne. The biggest change is the dodge mechanic, replacing the iconic and somewhat comedic rolling with a dash, just like the PS4 exclusive. Blood Vial animations have been included, as well as firearms for gun parrying, a feature exclusive to the Bloodborne in the Soulslike series. This all makes the game quicker and feel more aggressive, just like Bloodborne, but potentially easier since the dash makes players faster than Elden Ring enemies were designed for.

The closest thing Elden Ring has to a Bloodborne's dash is the Bloodhound Step Ash of War.

Not only have the visuals received a huge change, and the gameplay has practically been directly imported from Bloodborne, but the UI has been changed, too. In general, Soulsborne games tend to have relatively similar UI, so the changes don't affect the gameplay too much. The new UI designs added by Graceborne are relatively minor compared to everything else, but it does tie the aesthetic together nicely to make it all feel like a proper Bloodborne sequel, even if it isn't quite one.

Nearly A Decade Without Bloodborne Has Left Fans Wanting More

There Isn't Even A Port For PC

Strangely, it is fitting that Graceborne is only available for PC, given that it is a mod since Bloodborne is only available for PlayStation. Despite the game's immense success, there isn't even a port available for PC, even if many have tried to find a way to emulate the game. FromSoftware would like Bloodborne on PC, but one of the main issues around the franchise is that the developer doesn't actually own the IP. Currently, the IP is owned by Sony Interactive, and it doesn't look like much will happen to it at the moment.

After getting the full rights to Elden Ring from Bandai Namco and its recent success, FromSoftware might be doubling down on this IP. With Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon being the developer's latest full-release title, FromSoftware might be looking at its library of IPs and making games based on what it owns. The ownership issue of the Bloodborne IP might be what's stopping it from being used, and the best fans will get a PC port if Sony decides to make one like God of War and Ghost of Tsushima.

Ultimately, it has been a long, painful wait for anything new to come from the Bloodborne IP. Graceborne's work on Elden Ring is currently the closest thing that players will get to Bloodborne 2 and can be played on PC. It also doubles as a fresh, interesting way to play FromSoftware's latest Soulsborne game with new weapons and dodging mechanics, especially if they have taken several Tarnished from maidenless to sitting on the throne as Elden Lord.

Source: Nexus Mods/Graceborne