As the controversy around AI-created video game copies continues, Anthropic seemingly restricts Claude’s cloning abilities

Anthropic has implemented new restrictions on Claude Code to prevent the AI tool from creating clones of existing video games. The change, introduced around October 27, 2026, and internally labeled “tengu_heron_brook,” adds guidance to Claude Code’s system prompt stating developers should “build original games, games in a genre, and games from the user’s own designs and assets” while avoiding “a recreation of a specific existing game, even if it is renamed or called original.” Users cannot disable this restriction.

The move addresses growing concerns about AI-generated game clones flooding digital marketplaces. Game pages on itch.io have doubled in recent months, with Steam Next Fest experiencing significant disruption as AI-generated titles overwhelmed the showcase, making it difficult for players to discover indie games. AI remakes and copycats have become a widespread problem for game developers and intellectual property holders.

Anthropics member of technical staff Addy Osmani confirmed the update on social media, explaining that the company added two sentences to Claude Code’s Opus 5.5 prompt to prevent infringing on others’ intellectual property. While the restriction prevents direct clones, users can still leverage Claude Code to create original games and genres or build from their own designs and assets. The restriction reflects Anthropic’s policy against using Claude for IP infringement, first identified by X user Chasm.

As the controversy around AI-created video game copies continues, Anthropic seemingly restricts Claude’s cloning abilities

Sources