Wizards of the Coast, the company behind Dungeons & Dragons and the Baldur's Gate IP, has taken action against a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley titled "Baldur's Village." This mod, which integrates characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the popular farming simulation game, was previously celebrated by Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke. Shortly after its release earlier this month, Vincke expressed his admiration on Twitter, describing the mod as a labor of love and an impressive piece of work.
However, the mod's fate took a turn when Wizards of the Coast issued a DMCA takedown notice, leading to its removal from Nexus Mods. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that this might be an oversight by Wizards of the Coast, which often employs external agencies to monitor IP violations. They remain optimistic that the decision might be reversed, stating, "Fingers crossed for Baldur's Village."
In response to the takedown, Sven Vincke took to Twitter once more to voice his support for the mod and to discuss the complexities of IP protection. He emphasized the value of fan-created content, saying, "Free quality fan mods highlighting your characters in other game genres are proof your work resonates and a unique form of word of mouth. Imho they shouldn't be treated like commercial ventures that infringe on your property. Protecting your IP can be tricky but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this."
This incident may be part of a broader strategy by Wizards of the Coast to protect the Baldur's Gate IP. Recent discussions at the Game Developers Conference hinted at upcoming announcements regarding the future of the IP. It's unclear whether the Stardew Valley mod conflicted with these plans or if the takedown was a mistake that could soon be corrected. Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the situation.
