.pkgbbport runs the original PlayStation 4 executable of Bloodborne directly on an x86-64 Linux PC.
Think of it as Wine + DXVK for one game: a runtime written for this title replaces the PS4 system
libraries, and the game's graphics are translated to Vulkan by bbport's own renderer and shader
translator. It is not an emulator and it ships no game data.
¶ Compatibility
- Game data: a decrypted Bloodborne dump updated to 1.09. Any retail release that shares the executable works (CUSA03173 for the European Game of the Year edition, CUSA00900 for the US release).
- GPU: Vulkan. The renderer and shader translator began as shadPS4 code and were rewritten for this port; bbport is not part of the shadPS4 project.
- Architecture: x86-64 Linux, shipped as a 504 MB AppImage (0.6).
- Licence: GPL-2.0-or-later, with third-party components under their own licences.
¶ What it adds
- Upscaling: AMD FSR 3.1, FSR 4 and FSR 4.1.1, plus an NVIDIA DLSS bridge.
- Display: widescreen and ultrawide fixes, HUD handling at 21:9, mouse and keyboard support.
- Patches: the community patch set (60 fps, frame pacing and similar) is built in.
- Memory models: the new PC-style memory model is the default since 0.6; the 0.3 model remains as a launcher option.
¶ Online play
Online is a separate module (libbbnet20.so) shipped in the AppImage. It is off by default; the
launcher's Online page turns it on (BB_ONLINE=1) and offers two pools.
Seamless Hunt (default): a shadNet server plus BBSC's game server
(play.seamlesshunt.com:31313, WebAPI on :31315). It carries bells, summons, messages and
bloodstains, and adds seamless co-op for up to five hunters through
BBSC: the session survives deaths, lamps, area changes, bosses
and visits to the Hunter's Dream. Every player needs BBSC and the same pool. The account (online id
and password) is created at seamlesshunt.com.
The Hunter's Dream (thehuntersdream.com): sign in with Discord
from the launcher, then confirm the code on the site. It restores asynchronous multiplayer and the
classic bell/summon flow, but it does not support BBSC.
The former shadp2p module stays as a fallback (BB_NET_GEN=19). shadPS4's public server
(srv.shadps4.net) accepts only shadPS4's own builds, so it is not a bbport option. Offline, the
module is never loaded.
¶ Limitations
- 0.6 is early. 129 open issues at the time of writing; expect regressions between releases.
- Frame generation is present but hidden until its artifacts with the upscaler are fixed.
- Steam Deck is not yet validated, and the new memory model is still awaiting NVIDIA and Intel reports. Polaris (RX 400/500) fixes are unverified.
- Online is the least tested part: co-op needs both players on the same pool and BBSC, and The Hunter's Dream requires a Discord account.
¶ Rating
🥈 Silver. A technically serious port with a clean Linux build, real upscaling options and two
working online pools, held back by its 0.6 status, the open issue list and Linux-only builds from
this. Provisional.