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

Wizards of the Coast has taken down a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley titled "Baldur's Village," which integrated characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the game. This action came despite earlier public praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who had lauded the mod on Twitter shortly after its release.

The mod, which was available earlier this month, was removed following a DMCA takedown notice from Wizards of the Coast, the IP holder for Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that this might be an oversight, as Wizards of the Coast often employs external agencies to monitor for IP violations. They remain optimistic that the decision might 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, "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, "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."

This incident may be part of a broader strategy by Wizards of the Coast to manage the Baldur's Gate IP, especially with upcoming announcements expected soon, as hinted at during the Game Developers Conference. Whether this takedown was a deliberate move or an error remains to be seen. Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the situation.