Anthropic has implemented new instructions in Claude Code to stop the AI from building clones of specific existing video games, while allowing original projects.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Anthropic has updated its AI coding tool, Claude Code, with new instructions designed to prevent users from creating recreations of existing video games. The update was first identified by X user Chasm around October 27, 2026, and was confirmed by Anthropic technical staff member Addy Osmani.
The updated rules, which were added to the prompt for Opus 5.5, include the following instruction: "Do build original games, games in a genre, and games from the user's own designs and assets. Do not build a recreation of a specific existing game, even if it is renamed or called original."
Addy Osmani stated on X that the company added these sentences "to steer it away from recreating someone else's specific game because using Claude to infringe IP is against our usage policy." Osmani clarified that "Original games, genre games, and games built from your own designs and assets are meant to keep working," adding that Anthropic will "continue to iterate to ensure we're striking the right balance."
The update follows growing concerns within the gaming industry regarding AI-assisted cloning. Developers have expressed fears that AI tools could be used to replicate unreleased titles or flood digital storefronts with copies. For example:
Reports note that the number of game pages on itch.io has doubled in the past two months, which some attribute to the popularity of AI tools and "vibe coding."
While the update aims to protect intellectual property, several questions regarding its effectiveness remain. It is currently unclear how Claude Code will distinguish between original designs and close imitations, or how it will verify if a user owns the assets they are using.
Additionally, safety restrictions on AI models can sometimes be bypassed through carefully worded prompts. Furthermore, the restriction applies only to Anthropic's tools and does not extend to "open-weight" models, which users can run locally and modify to remove safety guardrails.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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