Anthropic blocks Claude Code from recreating existing video games

New guardrails for game dev

Anthropic recently introduced new restrictions for its AI coding assistant, Claude Code. These updates are specifically designed to stop the tool from being used to recreate existing video games. The company wants to ensure that its technology is not used to infringe on the intellectual property of other creators.

The change was confirmed by Anthropic's Addy Osmani on October 30. According to reports from X user Chasm, a new configuration named tengu_heron_brook was delivered through Anthropic's servers around October 27. This configuration tells the AI to refuse requests to recreate existing games even if a user tries to rename the project or describe it as an original work.

As reported by VideoCardz.com, these instructions are now part of the prompt for Claude Opus 5.5. The goal is to steer the model away from specific titles that belong to other companies. This move comes as a response to concerns about how easily AI can be used to generate unauthorized copies of popular media.

Impact on independent projects

While the goal is to prevent piracy, some developers are finding that the new rules are too broad. Users have reported that Claude Code is now refusing to work on legitimate, original projects. These projects are often built from scratch using unique designs and assets provided by the developers themselves.

One specific complaint appeared on Anthropic’s official GitHub repository on October 30. A developer from Conflict Simulations LLC noted that the AI began refusing work on personalized digital board-wargame modules. These modules were commissioned by customers for personal use and were built using original code and materials.

The developer noted that the refusals began after they explicitly asked the AI to check if the new restrictions applied to their work. Even after starting a new session to clear the previous context, the AI continued to refuse requests involving the same repositories. This suggests the restriction may be sticking to certain project folders or themes.

How the AI identifies IP

Anthropic has stated that the new prompt is intended to target the recreation of someone else's specific game. They clarified that the tool should still function for original games and projects based on existing genres. Developers who use their own designs and assets are meant to be able to continue their work without interference.

The system is designed to recognize patterns that mirror existing titles too closely. Because the restriction cannot be disabled in the settings, the AI acts as a gatekeeper for the model's capabilities. This creates a situation where the AI must determine if a request is a creative expansion or a direct copy.

Addy Osmani acknowledged that some legitimate projects might be rejected by these new filters. He encouraged affected developers to report these specific cases to the company. This feedback loop is intended to help the team fine-tune the instructions to be more precise in distinguishing between inspiration and infringement.

The legality of reverse engineering

The discussion around these restrictions often touches on the legality of reverse engineering. In both the United States and the European Union, reverse engineering is generally legal under certain conditions. These conditions typically include situations where the goal is software compatibility or interoperability.

Providing tools for recompilation or reverse engineering is also generally considered legal by authorities. However, users are responsible for ensuring they have legally obtained copies of the software they are working with. They must also comply with all applicable copyright laws regarding the distribution of assets.

While protections do not extend to every form of DRM circumvention, the act of reverse engineering itself is not an illegal activity. This is why certain companies cannot stop the creation of decompilation tools. However, they can still take action against specific content, such as videos showing games running on emulators.

What comes next for developers

Developers who want to use Claude Code for game development will need to be more careful with how they frame their prompts. Since the AI is looking for specific