Wizards of the Coast has recently issued a DMCA takedown notice for a fan-created mod called "Baldur's Village," which introduced characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the popular game Stardew Valley. This action came shortly after the mod's release and despite earlier praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who had lauded the mod's creativity and dedication on social media.
The mod, which was hosted on Nexus Mods, was taken down following the notice from Wizards of the Coast, the intellectual property holder for Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that the takedown was an oversight, suggesting that Wizards of the Coast often relies on external agencies to monitor and address 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 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 argued that such mods should not be treated as commercial ventures infringing on IP rights and expressed hope for a resolution, noting, "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, especially in light of upcoming announcements about the franchise's future, as hinted at during the recent Game Developers Conference. Whether the takedown of "Baldur's Village" was a deliberate move or an error remains to be seen. Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the situation.
