Wizards of the Coast has recently taken action against a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley, named "Baldur's Village," which integrated characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the game. The mod, which was released earlier this month, had initially received positive feedback from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who praised the mod's dedication and craftsmanship on Twitter.
However, the mod was subsequently removed following a DMCA takedown notice issued by Wizards of the Coast, the intellectual property holder for 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 employ external agencies to monitor IP violations, and suggested that the decision could be reversed.
In response to the takedown, Sven Vincke took to Twitter again to voice his support for the mod while acknowledging the complexities of IP protection. He stated, "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 action by Wizards of the Coast may be part of a broader strategy regarding the Baldur's Gate IP. At the recent Game Developers Conference, it was hinted that more details about future plans for the IP would be revealed soon. It's unclear whether the Stardew Valley mod conflicted with these plans or if the takedown was a mistake that will be quickly corrected. Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the matter.
