Wizards of the Coast Walks Back Stardew Valley Mod Takedown, Calls It a ‘Mistake’

The dust is settling on the controversy surrounding the Stardew Valley mod inspired by Baldur’s Gate 3, after Wizards of the Coast (WotC) admitted its DMCA takedown was issued in error. The company has pledged to reverse the action, allowing the mod to return. But the backlash raises fresh concerns about how corporations handle fan-made content.

Wizards of the Coast Backtracks on DMCA Takedown

Wizards of the Coast is reversing course after a weekend of online uproar. The company issued a statement confirming that the takedown of the Baldur’s Village mod was a mistake and is being rectified.

“The Baldur’s Village DMCA takedown was issued mistakenly – we are sorry about that,” WotC told IGN. “We are in the process of fixing that now so fans and the Stardew community can continue to enjoy this great mod!”

The about-face comes just days after the mod was removed from Nexus Mods, sparking criticism from fans and even game developers. Many pointed to the mod’s popularity and positive reception, questioning whether WotC’s legal teams acted too aggressively.

A Mod That Won Hearts—and Legal Scrutiny

The Baldur’s Village mod had already gained significant traction in the Stardew Valley and Baldur’s Gate 3 communities. Released earlier this month after over a year in development, the mod added a new village north of Pelican Town, complete with recognizable Baldur’s Gate characters.

• A romanceable Astarion, a fan-favorite vampire elf from Baldur’s Gate 3
• A brand-new tavern featuring in-game references
• Plans for additional storylines, including content centered around Halsin

Its popularity soared when Larian Studios’ co-founder Swen Vincke praised it publicly, calling it “amazing” on social media. But despite the warm reception from the Baldur’s Gate 3 developers, Wizards of the Coast’s legal team took a different stance—at least initially.

The Fallout and Community Response

The takedown immediately sparked backlash. Fans questioned whether corporate oversight was preventing the very kind of fan engagement that helps keep franchises alive. Nexus Mods, the hosting site, also weighed in, expressing hope that WotC would reverse the decision.

“Baldur’s Village is an incredibly creative crossover to Stardew Valley that the community loves,” Nexus Mods said in a statement to PC Gamer. “Hopefully, this is an oversight from WotC, who often use external agencies to hunt down violating content.”

Larian’s Vincke also defended the mod, emphasizing the importance of fan projects. “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 wrote on social media. “Protecting your IP can be tricky but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this.”

What’s Next for Baldur’s Gate and WotC?

The timing of the takedown has only fueled speculation about Wizards of the Coast’s broader plans. Hasbro, WotC’s parent company, has been vocal about its desire to keep Baldur’s Gate alive following the massive success of Baldur’s Gate 3.

During a recent investor call, Hasbro suggested that more developers were eager to take up the franchise.

Meanwhile, Larian Studios has made it clear they won’t be returning to the franchise, instead opting to focus on their own intellectual properties.

The question remains: will WotC’s legal stance on fan mods shift going forward? For now, it seems like Baldur’s Village will return—but the incident highlights the uneasy relationship between corporations and fan-made content.