From PCMAG · Ruben Circelli · · 1m 20s
Claude Stops Game Cloning
Anthropic's Claude now blocks copying specific games but still supports modding and reverse engineering.
In brief
Anthropic's Claude now blocks copying specific games but still supports modding and reverse engineering. Claude 5.5 won't clone existing games but keeps helping with game mods and reverse engineering. Originally reported by PCMAG.
What Anthropic Changed
Anthropic added two sentences to Opus 5.5 rules: build original games, genre games, and user-designed games. Don't build recreations of specific existing games.
“Do build original games, games in a genre, and games from the user's own designs and assets. Don't build a recreation of a specific existing game, even if it is renamed or called original.”
Modding Still Works
Claude can still decompile Valheim updates and mods to help with game maintenance and achievement tracking.
“I decompiled Valheim's latest update and several mods to figure out how they work, in service of developing new mods, maintaining existing ones I created, and continuing work on an achievement-tracker utility that reads progress directly from decompiled game code.”
Clones Are Blocked
Claude refuses to help copy games or apps even if users don't reuse assets or code.
“Even if you don't plan to reuse any of a game's assets or code, Claude still declines to help, citing copyright issues and service agreement violations.”
ArtCraft's Experience
ArtCraft's Brandon Thomas used Claude to build PhotoCraft, an AI clone of Adobe Photoshop.
“ArtCraft's Brandon Thomas, for example, relied on Claude during the development of PhotoCraft, his AI clone of Adobe Photoshop.”
Workarounds Exist
Users can prompt engineer Claude or use Craft Anything to build game versions without copying.
“Craft Anything lets you see how any website, app or game works, then have AI build your own version, all while still relying on Anthropic's tech.”
OpenAI Still Works
OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra model helps decompile and clone games without restrictions.
“In testing, OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra model had no problem helping me decompile, reverse engineer, and clone games, including upcoming ones with only demos available.”
Why This Rule Makes Sense
Games are art that should be protected from unfeeling machines, not just software features.
“Video games are art. Maybe the line between artistic work and product is blurrier in video games than in a painting or another creative medium that relies less on technology.”
Most People Won't Notice
Claude's new rule won't affect most modders and reverse engineers.
“For most people, Claude's new rule won't change much. If you're modding games, porting old ones, reverse engineering how a system works, or building your own original project, Claude is still happy to help.”
What Happens Next
Claude's overzealous refusals will likely ease up over time as it learns from user feedback.
“If Anthropic's handling of Fable is any indication, Claude's overzealous refusals will likely ease up over time.”
What matters most
Claude 5.5 won't clone existing games but keeps helping with game mods and reverse engineering.
