ShadPS4 Emulator Enhances Bloodborne Experience on PC
The quest to experience the haunting world of Bloodborne on PC has taken a significant leap forward with the latest update of the PlayStation 4 emulator, ShadPS4. The recent version 0.12.6 brings a remarkable performance boost, making the game more accessible for users with less powerful hardware. While the initial setup may require some technical finesse and patience, the rewards are becoming increasingly evident.
Since Bloodborne first became playable on PC last year, players have faced numerous challenges, including frequent crashes and performance issues. However, the current iteration of ShadPS4 offers a much more stable experience, as evidenced by a recent side-by-side comparison video from tabeneru. This demonstration utilized a PC equipped with an Intel Core i5-13500 CPU and an RTX 3060 Ti GPU, showcasing gameplay at 1440p with an unlocked framerate. The results are impressive, with average frames per second (fps) more than doubling in certain scenarios, moving away from the frustratingly low sub-double-figure rates of the past.
In addition to the performance enhancements on traditional PCs, the emulator has also been tested on the Steam Deck OLED. In both handheld and docked modes, the game exhibits a notable improvement, with the handheld mode frequently maintaining around 60 fps, albeit with some fluctuations. During intense encounters, the frame rate dips to approximately 40 fps, while the docked mode achieves a stable 30 fps. Although this does not surpass the original PS4’s maximum framerate, it provides a playable experience on the handheld device, and the notorious frame pacing issues of Bloodborne may even render the Steam Deck a smoother option at 30 fps.
Despite these advancements, emulating Bloodborne is still not without its hurdles. Additional mods, such as the Vertex Explosion Fix employed by tabeneru, are often necessary to maintain stability. With no official remaster on the horizon to liberate Bloodborne from its aging software constraints, the gaming community remains hopeful for further improvements in PS4 emulation. As technology evolves, the dream of preserving and enjoying classic games continues to thrive, allowing players to immerse themselves in one of the most celebrated titles of all time.
