Anthropic restricts Pokémon use in AI projects, sparking backlash from fan game developer
Claude has started refusing to work with projects using official Pokémon images due to copyright material restrictions.
The developer of the fan-made game Pokémon Arena 2D has voiced frustration over new restrictions introduced by Anthropic’s Claude models. According to the project’s creator, Big Kid Nation, the neural network has begun rejecting tasks involving official Pokémon images and designs.
The developer stated that they spent around two years creating the game, with monthly project expenses reaching $2,000. They also claimed to have earned no income from their work. Pokémon Arena 2D is a free game featuring pixel graphics and real-time arena battles.
Big Kid Nation used AI tools for coding but handled development and testing independently. Specifically, they left their computer running overnight to simulate battles and identify balance issues.
The new restrictions imposed by Claude may hinder further development of the project. The developer also called on Nintendo to create a large-scale Pokémon game that fans of the franchise have been awaiting.
The next official releases in the series will be Pokémon Winds and Waves. Both games are scheduled to launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 next year.
