What do you think Larian will do about the Devkit unlock?

[Rain]

Modders have unlocked the Devkit...

https://www.ign.com/articles/baldurs-gate-3-modder-unlocks-complete-dev-toolkit-to-create-entirely-new-campaigns-and-content

Do you think Larian will crack down on this or allow people to do whatever they want?

[tonypa]

Larian does not control third-party mod distribution platforms. I assume this will not be supported within the game mod manager, but you can pretty much do whatever you want if you start to copy files around manually.

It is complicated tool and can take long time to learn, specially without proper documentation. A lot of mods are currently broken anyway so I am not very optimistic about getting large number of good quality total overhaul mods.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Rain:

What do you think Larian will do about the Devkit unlock?
Modders have unlocked the Devkit...

https://www.ign.com/articles/baldurs-gate-3-modder-unlocks-complete-dev-toolkit-to-create-entirely-new-campaigns-and-content

Do you think Larian will crack down on this or allow people to do whatever they want?

Hard to say. The general rule is to expect intervention to protect IP and copyrighted material.

But it is Larian Studios. So they might have as well allowed that to happen, expected it to happen and just turn blind eyes on it. A planned "leak" if you will.

[Яeplicant]

Only two ways about it: Either they patch it or they don't.

[Ereghor the Enigmatic]

I wouldn't get my hopes up.

D:OS games never really had much of a modding scene outside of balance tweaks and a short stand-alone module here and there simply because the tools are about the opposite of user-friendly. If the NWN toolset was akin to riding a bicycle and the NWN2 one was riding a bicycle with often jamming steering, Larian's one is more like skateboarding while doing a handstand.

[Holy Fool Sehrael]

Even if they wanted to, what could they even do realistically? It's in the internet now.

[TunaSamich]

was super disappointed that mod support didn't already allow for making custom campaigns. kinda shooting themselves in the foot if they want people to keep playing IMO

[Orion Invictus]

Originally posted by Holy Fool Sehrael:

Even if they wanted to, what could they even do realistically? It's in the internet now.

You'd be surprised what lawyers can do. Just look at what Nintendo does to fan projects.

[Razorblade]

I doubt Larian will C&D the mod, but they'll probably render it unusable with an update. Simple hacks generally have simple fixes.

Originally posted by Holy Fool Sehrael:

Even if they wanted to, what could they even do realistically? It's in the internet now.

Improved the security on the mod tools, then force everyone to update their game. Sure, a few people might stubbornly prevent their game and toolkit from updating to the newest patch, but the few modders who did so will eventually give up when they realize there is no one left to play their custom adventure mods that only function on an old, inaccessible patch.

[Orion Invictus]

Originally posted by Razorblade:

I doubt Larian will C&D the mod, but they'll probably render it unusable with an update. Simple hacks generally have simple fixes.

Larian might not WANT to do it, but if their contract with WotC says they have to, then they have no choice.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Яeplicant:

Only two ways about it: Either they patch it or they don't.

They would also have to remove the current version from the Steam database, though. Put aside the fact it is simple to "freeze" the game version to keep the toolkit "as it is" usable as long you want.

Not to mention detached versions such as via GOG.com

[Caldrin]

Nothing unless WOTC try and force them to.. I would think it would be easy enough for them to stop it working if needed, but pretty sure they don't want to.

[EricHVela]

As long as the creators aren't asking for more than whatever limit WotC set for income on content based on WotC-owned content, the Pinkertons will not show up at the door.

As long as Larian doesn't promote BG3 as a virtual tabletop for custom games, WotC will have a tough time convincing lawyers that Larian owes WotC for creating a service that directly competes with WotC's plans for a virtual tabletop for custom games, especially since there are other paid services that are marketed specifically as virtual tabletops that can be used with WotC content.

If Larian wants to do something, it'll be their decision to do so, not WotC's. If they want to stay on Hasbro's good side to avoid burning that bridge anymore than it has(bro), they'll do something that'll simply mess up devkit stuff and force people to use an older, unsupported version to keep using the devkit.

No worries.

[Chroniver]

It would be very shortsighted even for WOTC to try and do something about it.

Any and all extra interest created for DnD through this tool in the longterm should always be a win for them.

[Chaosolous]

If it wasn't Larian I'd say DMCA's for anything that gets made, because WoTC.

It's Larian though, so who knows. They're one of the few developers around that still likes their customers.

[Orion Invictus]

Originally posted by Chroniver:

It would be very shortsighted even for WOTC to try and do something about it.

Any and all extra interest created for DnD through this tool in the longterm should always be a win for them.

They don't see it that way. If it doesn't put money in their coffers IMMEDIATELY, it's considered a loss.

Just look at Nintendo.