Claude Code: no clones of existing games
What's out, what still works, how to ask.
Anthropic confirmed it on Oct 30, 2026
Why it matters
Not a game ban. A clone ban
Two new sentences in Claude Code's instructions, confirmed Oct 30.
- Who it affects. Anyone making games with Claude Code on Opus 5.5.
- Why. Anthropic's usage policy bans infringing someone's IP, like their game.
What still works
Your games still work
Anthropic, Oct 30: these are meant to keep working.
- Original games. Your own idea, rules and story.
- Genre games. A platformer, a puzzle game, a roguelike.
- Your own designs. Art and assets you made or own.
What's out
Renaming it doesn't help
A copy of one specific game is out, even if you call it original.
- Asking for a copy. A specific existing game, under any name.
- Reverse engineering? Some users report refusals. Anthropic hasn't announced a ban.
What you do now
Describe your own idea
Put these three in your first message to Claude Code:
- Name the genre. A platformer, a puzzle game, a card game.
- Add your twist. Your own rules, names and story.
- Use your own art. Or simple shapes Claude draws in code.
Save this
Your idea, your game
What changed, in one look.
- Original or genre game. Works, as before.
- Copy of a specific game. Declined, even renamed.
- Reverse engineering. No official ban announced.
Making something to sell?
Our guide shows how to make and sell one small PDF with AI, with the real numbers. Chapter 1 is free.
Checked against official sources on Nov 4, 2026. The character in our posts is made with AI.