Wizards of the Coast DMCA Targets Fan's Baldur's Gate 3 Mod, Larian CEO Reacts

Wizards of the Coast has recently issued a DMCA takedown notice for a fan-created mod called "Baldur's Village," which integrated characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the popular farming simulation game, Stardew Valley. This move came despite earlier public praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who had lauded the mod's creativity and the dedication evident in its creation.

The "Baldur's Village" mod, which was released earlier this month, quickly caught the attention of the gaming community and received a positive response from Vincke on Twitter, where he described it as "amazing work" filled with "so much love." However, the mod's presence was short-lived as Wizards of the Coast, the owner of the Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate intellectual properties, issued the takedown notice.

A spokesperson from Nexus Mods, the platform hosting the mod, expressed hope that the takedown was an oversight, suggesting that Wizards of the Coast often employs external agencies to monitor and address IP violations. The spokesperson voiced optimism that the decision might be reversed, stating, "Fingers crossed for Baldur's Village."

In response to the situation, Vincke took to Twitter again to express his continued support for the mod while 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, noting that they serve as a testament to the resonance of the original work and should not be treated as commercial infringements.

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. At the recent Game Developers Conference, it was hinted that more details about future plans for the IP would be revealed soon. It remains unclear whether the Stardew Valley mod conflicted with these plans or if the takedown was a mistake that will be corrected. Wizards of the Coast has been approached for further comment on the matter.