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 targeting a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley named "Baldur's Village," which integrated characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the game. This mod, released earlier this month, had initially received public praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who described it as "amazing work" on Twitter.

However, the mod was taken down following the DMCA notice from Wizards of the Coast, who own the rights to Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that this might be an oversight on the part of Wizards of the Coast, suggesting that the decision could be reversed.

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 hoped for a resolution, suggesting that there are better ways to handle such situations.

This takedown might be part of a broader strategy by Wizards of the Coast regarding the Baldur's Gate IP. At the recent Game Developers Conference, it was hinted that announcements about future plans for the IP would be forthcoming. It's unclear if the Stardew Valley mod conflicted with these plans or if the takedown was an error that will be corrected. Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the matter.