Bloodborne is not your average game. It combines stunning modern production values with challenging retro sensibilities, making it a must-play for any avid gamer. However, along with its brilliant design comes a punishing save system. While losing your hard-earned currency and items upon death adds a sense of gravity to the game, it can be frustrating to spend hours farming resources before facing a boss again.
Fortunately, there’s a way to game the system and create “save states” in Bloodborne. Hardcore fans have been using this tactic for years, exploiting weaknesses and glitches to their advantage. Rather than criticizing this approach, the developers have actually encouraged it, as seen with the notorious Drake Sword in Dark Souls.
If you’re tired of farming and want to jump straight into challenging boss battles, or if you’re aiming to achieve all three endings without playing through NG+, creating a save point is a game-changer. Here’s how you can do it:
Creating the Save State
- Before creating a “save state,” assess your situation in the game. If you’re about to face a boss, make sure you stock up on resources and position yourself in a secure location. Alternatively, you can always retreat to the Hunter’s Dream. Once you’re satisfied, save the game as you normally would by pausing and exiting to the title screen.
- Press the Home button to go back to the dashboard. From there, select Settings => Application Saved Data Management. When you receive a message that the Bloodborne application will close, select OK.
- Choose Saved Data in System Storage => Upload to Online Storage or, if you don’t have PS Plus, Copy to USB Storage Device.
- Select Bloodborne (you’ll likely only have one Bloodborne SaveData, which should display the time and date of the game you just saved). Then, select Upload (or Copy if using a USB Storage Device). If there’s already existing Bloodborne SaveData in that storage location, you’ll be prompted to overwrite it. Unless you have a specific reason to keep it, select Yes and leave the Apply to All box unchecked.
- Congratulations! You’ve successfully created a duplicate copy of your save file that won’t be affected by Bloodborne’s autosave feature. Now, relaunch the game.
Reloading Your Save State
- When the game isn’t loading, press the Home button => Settings => Application Saved Data Management.
- This time, select the location where you saved the “save state,” whether it’s Online Storage or USB Storage Device.
- Choose Download to System Storage (or Copy to System Storage if using USB) => Bloodborne => Download (or Copy if using USB). A prompt will appear, asking if you want to overwrite the current saved data on your system. Since you want to replace it with your “save state,” select Yes and leave the Apply to All box unchecked.
- After the downloading (or copying) process finishes, relaunch Bloodborne, and there you have it!
While this trick is incredibly useful in certain situations, I advise using it sparingly to avoid constantly closing and relaunching the game. Additionally, remember that reloading the “save state” will delete all progress made since its creation, including items found, enemies defeated, and shortcuts unlocked. So use this knowledge wisely, fellow Hunter, and may the Sun shine upon you!
