Earlier this month, we showcased the launch of Baldur’s Village, a mod for Stardew Valley featuring over 20 characters from Baldur’s Gate 3, which received Swen Vincke’s approval. However, Wizards of the Coast reacted by trying to remove the mod from the internet with a DMCA notice, claiming it relied on their IP. Later, they admitted to the mistake by stating,

“The Baldur’s Village DMCA takedown was issued mistakenly—we are sorry about that. We are fixing that now so fans and the Stardew community can continue to enjoy this great mod!”

Vincke expressed his thoughts on the relationship between fan mods and commercial ventures:

“Free quality fan mods highlighting your characters in other game genres are proof your work resonates and a unique form of word of mouth. In my opinion, they shouldn’t be treated like commercial ventures that infringe on your property.”

In subsequent communications, he emphasized that while protecting intellectual property is important, there should be better ways to approach these matters. Larian Studios does not control the Baldur’s Gate and Dungeons & Dragons licenses, which belong to Wizards of the Coast. Vincke expressed trust that the characters would be handled with the respect they deserve. The retraction of the takedown notice showcases the delicate balance between creativity and copyright in gaming.