Wizards of the Coast has recently issued a DMCA takedown notice targeting a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley named "Baldur's Village," which introduced characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the farming simulation game. This mod, which was released earlier this month, had initially received public praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who celebrated the mod's creativity and dedication on Twitter.
However, the mod was removed following the takedown notice from Wizards of the Coast, the company that holds the rights to both Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that this action might be an oversight, suggesting that Wizards of the Coast 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 situation, Sven Vincke took to Twitter once more to voice his support for the mod while acknowledging the complexities of IP protection. He emphasized the value of fan mods, stating, "Free quality fan mods highlighting your characters in other game genres are proof your work resonates and a unique form of word of mouth." Vincke added, "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 concerning the Baldur's Gate IP. At the recent Game Developers Conference, it was hinted that more announcements regarding the IP's future are expected soon. It's possible that the Stardew Valley mod conflicted with these plans, though it could also be a simple mistake that will be corrected. Efforts have been made to contact Wizards of the Coast for further clarification on the matter.
