Anthropic has updated Claude so the AI model steers away from recreating specific existing video games, even when a user renames the copy or calls it original. The change, confirmed in late October 2026, still lets people build original games, games in an established genre and games based on their own designs.
The update arrives after weeks of complaints from developers that AI coding tools were being used to copy their games and demos, and as stores like Steam deal with a surge of low-effort, AI-made releases.
What exactly changed in Claude
Users of Claude Code spotted a new instruction, listed internally as “tengu_heron_brook,” and shared it on X. It tells Claude to build original games, genre games and games from a user’s own designs, but not to build a recreation of a specific existing game.
Addy Osmani, a member of Anthropic’s technical staff, confirmed that two sentences were added to guide Claude away from rebuilding someone else’s specific game, because using Claude to infringe intellectual property breaks the company’s usage policy. He said legitimate game projects “are meant to keep working,” that Anthropic will keep tuning the balance, and that developers whose own work gets wrongly refused can contact him, according to PC Gamer.
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Why game developers pushed for it
Developers have reported that their games and public demos were copied with AI help, and some studios have pulled demos altogether. The team behind Moonlighter canceled a public demo and said it will not run a public playtest for its next game over cloning fears. “If you can’t show your game to the world without fearing it’ll be cloned, something’s broken,” the studio said.
At the same time, Steam has been flooded with quick, “vibe-coded” games, many of them imitations of hits such as Vampire Survivors, Balatro and Peak. PC Gamer reports that the number of demos at the latest Steam Next Fest doubled, with AI-assisted games making up most of the increase. Valve has acknowledged the problem but says it does not want to tell developers which tools to use.
What you can still make with Claude
According to Tom’s Guide, the rule targets requests to rebuild a named, existing game. Making a new roguelike, a platformer or a battle royale of your own is still fine, since game genres and general ideas are not protected by copyright. Building a game from your own designs and assets is also allowed.
Key details
- Who: Anthropic, maker of the Claude AI models and Claude Code
- What: Claude now steers away from recreating a specific existing game, even if renamed
- Still allowed: original games, genre games, games from your own designs and assets
- Confirmed by: Addy Osmani of Anthropic, in late October 2026
- Context: developer complaints about AI-assisted cloning and a flood of AI-made games on Steam
The change is small, but it is one of the first times an AI company has drawn a clear line on game cloning. Whether it slows the wave of copycat games depends on how strictly it is applied and on what stores like Steam and itch.io decide to do. More on the company: Anthropic news.
Sources: PC Gamer, Tom’s Guide, CNET. More: Gaming News.
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