Wizards of the Coast has recently issued a DMCA takedown notice targeting a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley, named "Baldur's Village," which integrates characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the farming simulation game. This action came despite initial public praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who had commended the mod's creativity and dedication shortly after its release earlier this month.
The mod, which was available on Nexus Mods, was taken down following the DMCA notice from Wizards of the Coast, the IP holder for both Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that this might be an oversight by Wizards of the Coast, who often rely on external agencies to manage IP violations, and suggested that the decision might be reversed.
In response to the takedown, Sven Vincke took to Twitter again to voice his support for the mod, acknowledging the complexities of IP protection. He stated, "Protecting your IP can be tricky but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this." Vincke emphasized the value of fan mods, calling them "free quality fan mods highlighting your characters in other game genres" and a unique form of word of mouth that showcases the resonance of the original work.
This incident may be part of a broader strategy by Wizards of the Coast to protect the Baldur's Gate IP, especially considering recent announcements at the Game Developers Conference hinting at upcoming plans for the franchise. It remains unclear whether the takedown of the Stardew Valley mod aligns with these plans or if it was an error that will be corrected. Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the matter.
