Anthropic has updated Claude Code on Opus 5.5 to steer the AI away from recreating recognizable video games. The change targets prompts asking Claude to reproduce a specific existing title, including requests that rename the game or describe it as original.
The new rule, first spotted by a user on X, says Claude should help build original games, games within a genre, and projects based on a user’s own designs and assets. It says not to recreate a particular existing game.
Anthropic engineering leader Addy Osmani said the change is intended to prevent Claude from being used to infringe intellectual property, in line with the company’s usage policy. He added that original games and projects built from users’ own material should continue to work, and that Anthropic will keep adjusting the guidance. Osmani also invited users to report cases where Claude refuses a request involving their own work.
The update comes amid a wave of AI-assisted projects involving established games. These include decompiling or reverse-engineering titles to examine their code and mechanics, as well as experiments that combine elements from different games. The article cites examples such as Halo: Combat Evolved running in a browser and Super Mario 64 being rebuilt for PC.
Anthropic’s restriction is focused on recreating a specific existing game; the guidance described by Osmani still permits original games, genre-based projects and games made from a user’s own designs and assets.
Sources: Tom's Guide.