Wizards of the Coast has recently issued a DMCA takedown notice targeting a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley, known as "Baldur's Village," which integrates characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the game. This action came shortly after the mod's release earlier this month, despite it receiving public praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who lauded the mod's creativity and dedication on Twitter.
The mod's removal was confirmed by a Nexus Mods spokesperson to PC Gamer, attributing the takedown to Wizards of the Coast, the holder of the Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate intellectual properties. The spokesperson expressed hope that the decision might be an oversight, possibly due to the use of external agencies by Wizards of the Coast to monitor IP violations, and wished for a reversal of the takedown.
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 as a testament to the resonance of the original work and suggested that such creations should not be treated as commercial infringements. Vincke expressed hope for a resolution, indicating that there are better ways to handle such situations.
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 a mistake remains unclear, and Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the matter.
