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

Wizards of the Coast has recently taken action against a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley, titled "Baldur's Village," which integrated characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the farming simulation game. This move came in the form of a DMCA takedown notice, despite the mod receiving public praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke shortly after its release earlier this month.

Vincke had initially commended the mod on Twitter, expressing admiration for the effort and creativity put into it. However, the mod's removal following the DMCA notice has led to a response from Vincke, who addressed the situation on Twitter once more. He acknowledged the complexities of intellectual property protection but emphasized the value of fan mods, suggesting they should not be treated as commercial infringements.

Protecting your IP can be tricky but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this.

— Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) March 31, 2025

Vincke stated, "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. Protecting your IP can be tricky but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this."

The takedown has sparked speculation about Wizards of the Coast's broader strategy regarding the Baldur's Gate IP. At the recent Game Developers Conference, it was hinted that more announcements about the IP are forthcoming. This has led some to wonder if the Stardew Valley mod conflicted with upcoming plans, or if the takedown was simply an oversight that might be reversed. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that Wizards of the Coast would reconsider their decision, calling it a possible oversight.

Efforts have been made to reach out to Wizards of the Coast for further comment on this matter.