(Image credit: Larian)
Dungeons & Dragons IP owner Wizards of the Coast may have issued a DMCA against an enthusiastic Baldur’s Gate 3 and Stardew Valley mod, but that doesn’t mean all parties are on the same page. Baldur’s Gate 3 director Swen Vincke, who previously praised the lovingly-crafted mod as “amazing,” shares a different perspective.
In a series of Twitter posts, Vincke argued, “Free quality fan mods highlighting your characters in other game genres are proof your work resonates and a unique form of word of mouth.” He suggests such mods shouldn’t be perceived as commercial infringements.
Earlier today, Nexus Mods, the former host of “Baldur’s Village”, reached out to GamesRadar+ to present its view on the mod’s takedown, initiated last week by a Wizards legal representative. A Nexus content manager advocated for the reinstatement of the mod, which creatively introduced new maps and charming Baldur’s Gate 3 sprites to Stardew Valley.
While Larian, particularly Swen Vincke, clearly supports the creators of Baldur’s Village, their backing is primarily motivational at this stage. “Protecting your IP can be tricky,” Vincke adds on Twitter, “but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this.” Although Mod creator XunHe1145 has not publicly commented on the mod’s situation, their Patreon for updates remains active.
The intersection of beloved game worlds in the Baldur’s Gate 3-themed mod has drawn significant attention, demonstrating the passionate community’s spirit that continues despite corporate challenges.