Target Offered Bloodborne and $20 PSN Card Bundle at Launch

In March 2015, retailer Target provided a launch week deal for the PlayStation 4 exclusive Bloodborne. The promotion bundled the action RPG from FromSoftware with a PlayStation Network gift card, offering a discount for early adopters just as the game was hitting store shelves.

The Launch Week Bundle at Target

The deal was advertised to run from March 22 to March 28, 2015, a window that perfectly covered the game’s North American release. According to a Target ad circulated on the Cheap Ass Gamer forums at the time, customers who purchased a physical copy of Bloodborne along with a $20 PSN card would receive a $15 discount on the total purchase. This effectively reduced the cost of the new $59.99 game to $44.99 for any player who planned to make digital purchases on the PlayStation Store.

This type of retail bundle was a common strategy for major releases. It encouraged sales of both the physical game and the platform’s digital currency. The PSN card could be used by players to purchase downloadable content, other digital-only games, or cosmetic themes, making the deal particularly appealing to dedicated PlayStation users looking to maximize their value.

A Major PlayStation 4 Exclusive

Bloodborne was a critical release for the PlayStation 4, which was still in its second year on the market. Developed by FromSoftware and directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, it followed the immense success of Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. The title was one of the most significant PS4 exclusives of 2015, and anticipation among the console’s user base was extremely high.

Fans were eager to experience the studio’s new intellectual property. The shift from the dark fantasy settings of the Souls series to the gothic horror city of Yharnam, inspired by Victorian-era aesthetics, was a major point of excitement. Pre-release information highlighted new gameplay mechanics that promised a different experience, including a faster, more aggressive combat system that rewarded offense. The absence of a traditional shield, the introduction of the health-regain “Rally” system, and the unique transforming “trick weapons” all signaled a bold evolution of the FromSoftware formula.

Release Timing and Other Offers

The game’s official North American release date was Tuesday, March 24, 2015. The Target deal was structured to capture sales from the Sunday before release through the following Saturday, covering the most active period for new game purchases. Around this time, reports also suggested that some players had managed to acquire copies of Bloodborne ahead of the official street date, leading to early gameplay videos and online discussion.

Alongside the main game deal, a separate offer was available for the official strategy guide. The Bloodborne Collector’s Edition Strategy Guide, published by Prima Games, was listed on Amazon with a 30% discount. For a game as notoriously cryptic and challenging as those from FromSoftware, physical guides were still a popular resource. They offered detailed walkthroughs, enemy data, and item locations invaluable for players determined to uncover every secret.