Is it possible to pause the game and how do I get the options menu up?

So this is my first game in the 'souls' series and I know it it meant to be hard but I can't even figure out how to pause the game.

Also when I played the game a second time I lost a bit of progress because I didn't select 'Exit Game' from the menu. The game was thoughtful enough to point this out to me but didn't tell me how to get that menu up.

I have tried the usual suspects, the options button and both sides of the touch pad to no avail.

I also tried being in offline mode but that seem to help either.

Solution 1:

There's no pause in Bloodborne, and that's intended mechanic (as well as no save\load options).

If you want to take a break you can press Options, then select Settings (icon with gears on top right), then select Exit Game.

If you want just to make a pause you can go to any safe spot (Hunter's Dream works well) and just leave game be.

Please note that right now Playstation 4 Stand By mode, which of course will pause the game as well, breaks connectivity, so you'll be offline until you restart the game.