On April 5, 2025, at 11:28 PM EDT, Blastoid Games is pleased to report a significant development in the gaming community: the Baldur’s Village mod, a fan-made crossover between Baldur’s Gate 3 and Stardew Valley, has been reinstated on Nexus Mods following a brief but contentious removal. This mod, which seamlessly blends the rich role-playing elements of Baldur’s Gate 3 with the cozy farming simulation of Stardew Valley, had captured the hearts of players—until a DMCA takedown notice from Wizards of the Coast (WotC) threatened its existence. Thanks to swift community action, vocal support from Larian Studios, and a reversal from WotC, the mod is back, and its future looks brighter than ever. Here’s a detailed look at the mod, the controversy, and what lies ahead for this beloved project.
Baldur’s Village: A Creative Crossover Triumph
Released on March 8, 2025, by modder Xun (known as XunHe1145 on Nexus Mods), Baldur’s Village introduces a new village north of Pelican Town in Stardew Valley, populated by over 20 characters from Baldur’s Gate 3, including fan favorites like Astarion, Shadowheart, and Karlach. The mod adds six new locations, dynamic events, shops with unique items, and even romance options—most notably with Astarion, who has a fully developed storyline. Players can press the P key to toggle pixel-art portraits of the Baldur’s Gate 3 cast, perfectly matching Stardew Valley’s aesthetic. The mod integrates seamlessly into existing save files, requiring only the Stardew Modding API (SMAPI), Content Patcher, and Portraiture mod to run, all of which are freely available on Nexus Mods.
The mod’s initial release was met with widespread acclaim, amassing nearly 4,000 downloads in its first few weeks. Its attention to detail and heartfelt integration of Baldur’s Gate 3’s characters into Stardew Valley’s world earned praise from both communities. Notably, Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios—the developer behind Baldur’s Gate 3—publicly endorsed the project on March 9, 2025, via a post on X, stating, “So much love went into this – amazing work!” This high-profile support underscored the mod’s quality and its significance as a bridge between two beloved gaming universes.
The DMCA Takedown: A Clash of Creativity and Copyright
The mod’s success was abruptly halted on March 29, 2025, when Wizards of the Coast, the rights holder of the Dungeons & Dragons IP (which includes Baldur’s Gate), issued a DMCA takedown notice. The notice, served through WotC’s legal firm Reynolds Law PLLC, led Nexus Mods to place Baldur’s Village “under moderation review,” effectively removing it from public access. A Nexus Mods spokesperson described the mod as “an incredibly creative cross-over to Stardew Valley that the community loves,” expressing hope that the takedown was an oversight, as WotC often employs external agencies to monitor for IP violations.
The removal sparked immediate backlash from the gaming community. Fans on platforms like X and ResetEra criticized WotC for stifling creativity, with some pointing to the company’s history of controversial decisions, such as its 2023 pushback on the Open Gaming License and its inconsistent stance on AI in promotional materials. The timing of the takedown raised eyebrows, as Hasbro (WotC’s parent company) had recently teased at GDC in March 2025 that news about the future of the Baldur’s Gate franchise was forthcoming, despite Larian Studios stepping away from the series to focus on original IPs. Speculation arose that WotC might be planning a cozy game of its own, though no evidence supports this theory, and a fan mod in a non-competing genre seems unlikely to interfere with such plans.
Larian Studios and Community Pushback
Swen Vincke quickly emerged as a champion for the modding community. On March 31, 2025, he posted on X, stating, “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.” He added, “Protecting your IP can be tricky, but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this.” Vincke’s comments highlighted a stark contrast between Larian’s player-centric philosophy—evidenced by their release of an official Baldur’s Gate 3 modding toolkit in 2024—and WotC’s more rigid approach to IP protection.
The community rallied behind Vincke’s stance, with fans and gaming outlets like PC Gamer, IGN, and Eurogamer amplifying the story. Nexus Mods also expressed support, reaching out to both WotC and Larian to resolve the issue. The pressure proved effective: on April 1, 2025, WotC issued a statement to IGN, admitting, “The Baldur’s Village DMCA takedown was issued mistakenly – we are sorry about that. We are in the process of fixing that now so fans and the Stardew community can continue to enjoy this great mod!” By April 2, the mod was reinstated on Nexus Mods, much to the relief of its fans.
The Modder’s Response and Future Plans
Xun, the creator of Baldur’s Village, addressed the situation on April 2, 2025, via a post on X, stating that the issue had been “thoroughly clarified and resolved.” They expressed gratitude to Larian Studios, Nexus Mods, and even WotC for their “thoughtful judgement and professional handling” of the matter. Xun revealed that on the day of the takedown, they had just completed Astarion’s Ten Hearts event, a significant update that was nearly delayed indefinitely. With the mod now restored, Xun confirmed that updates will resume as scheduled, with the next minor patch including the Astarion event and bug fixes, set to release in the near future. Plans for a Halsin romance storyline and further world-building are also in the works, promising to expand the mod’s already impressive scope.
A Broader Perspective: The Role of Fan Projects
This incident underscores the delicate balance between IP protection and fan creativity in the gaming industry. Fan mods like Baldur’s Village are not commercial ventures; they are labors of love that often enhance a game’s longevity and cultural impact. Larian Studios has long recognized this, fostering a modding community that has kept Baldur’s Gate 3 vibrant even as the studio moves on to new projects. WotC’s initial takedown, while legally within their rights, appeared heavy-handed, especially given the mod’s non-commercial nature and its potential to keep the Baldur’s Gate IP relevant during a transitional period for the franchise.
The swift reversal suggests that WotC may be reevaluating its approach to fan content, particularly in light of community feedback and Larian’s advocacy. However, it also highlights the risks fan creators face when working with licensed IPs, especially when external agencies are involved in IP enforcement. For now, the reinstatement of Baldur’s Village is a victory for the modding community, but it serves as a reminder of the precarious nature of such projects.
Looking Ahead
At Blastoid Games, we celebrate the return of Baldur’s Village and commend the collaborative efforts of the community, Larian Studios, and Nexus Mods in advocating for its reinstatement. This mod exemplifies the creativity and passion that define gaming culture, bringing together two distinct worlds in a way that delights players. As Xun continues to develop new content, we look forward to seeing how Baldur’s Village evolves, and we hope this incident encourages a more supportive environment for fan-made projects in the future. For those eager to explore this charming crossover, Baldur’s Village is once again available on Nexus Mods—ready to welcome players to a village where farming and fantasy collide.
