Bloodborne is an amazing game. It’s a rare mix of gorgeous, modern production values and demanding, retro sensibilities. It forces players to learn and become better gamers, rather than mindlessly level up and trudge forward. However, along with its brilliant design comes an unforgiving save system. Granted, losing all your accumulated currency and any chance to recoup spent items gives death a sense of gravity not found in most games. However, it only adds insult to injury when it forces you to spend an hour re-farming spent resources before you can go back to fighting a boss.
For years, hardcore fans tell those who call From Software games “cheap” to simply be “cheap” right back, exploiting any weakness or glitch they can find. Rather than make their games easier, this “cheesing” tactic is actually encouraged by the developers, as evident by Dark Souls’ Drake Sword.
So, if you’re tired of farming when you’d rather be fighting bosses, you want to get all three endings without having to play through NG+, or you just want to create a save point before trying something risky, here’s how to do it.
CREATING THE SAVE STATE
1. Before you create a “save state”, be aware of your situation in the game you want to save. For example, if you are about to start a boss fight, I recommend stocking up on resources and positioning yourself in a secluded location just before entering the fight. Or, if you prefer it, Hunter’s Dream is always a safe location. When you’re satisfied with the condition of your game, save the game as you normally would by pausing and exiting to the title screen.
2. Press the Home button to go back to the dashboard. From here, select Settings => Application Saved Data Management. When you get a message that the Bloodborne application will close, select OK.
3. Select Saved Data in System Storage => Upload to Online Storage, or (if you don’t have PS Plus) Copy to USB Storage Device.
4. Select Bloodborne (you’ll probably only have one Bloodborne SaveData, which should display the time and date of the game you just saved a moment ago). Then select Upload (Copy if using a USB Storage Device). If there already happens to be Bloodborne SaveData in this storage location, a prompt will ask if you want to overwrite the saved data. Unless you are saving it for some inexplicable reason, select Yes and leave the Apply to All box unchecked.
5. You have now made a duplicate copy of your save file that will remain untouched by Bloodborne’s autosave feature. Relaunch the game.
TO LOAD YOUR SAVE STATE
1. When the game is not in the process of loading, press the Home button => Settings => Application Saved Data Management.
2. This time, select the location you used to make the “save state”, either Online Storage or USB Storage Device.
3. Select Download to System Storage (or Copy to System Storage if using USB) => Bloodborne => Download (Copy if using USB). This will create a prompt asking if you want to overwrite the saved data currently on your system. You want to replace your current game with your “save state,” so select Yes and leave the Apply to All box unchecked.
4. After it finishes downloading (or copying), relaunch Bloodborne and voila.
While this trick is incredibly useful in some situations, I recommend doing it sparingly to avoid the hassle of repeatedly closing and relaunching the game. Also, keep in mind that ALL progress accumulated since creating the “save state” will be erased when you reload it, including items you’ve found, non-respawning enemies you’ve slain, shortcuts you’ve unlocked, and so forth. You’ve acquired great knowledge, good Hunter, use it carefully. Praise the Sun!