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A Claude Code user reports a server-side instruction making sessions refuse game-related development work
The report is one user's account in a GitHub issue, and it does not quote the rule.
Check our sources · 10 facts from 2 sourcesA Claude Code user says that around 27 October the tool began receiving a server-side instruction that makes its sessions refuse game-related development work. The claim is the user's own, made in a GitHub issue filed on 30 October on Anthropic's claude-code repository; the issue does not quote the instruction.
The reporter says they run Conflict Simulations LLC, which builds personalised digital modules of board wargames for individual clients from games the clients own, and that sessions doing this work for months now refuse to continue. They report using Opus 5.5 sessions on two paid accounts.
They ask Anthropic to narrow the instruction to actual infringement, to give professionals a verification or exemption path, and to document server-delivered instruction changes in the Claude Code changelog.
They say Anthropic's support bot told them on two accounts that the policy applies to all customers without exception and that no exemption path exists.
Anthropic's Claude Code documentation says the tool's system prompt is not published. As of 3 November the issue was open and carried ten comments.
Underlined sentences link to the facts we checked. Dotted words open a short explainer.
Fact 2 of 10 · from GitHub (issue filed by a user), 30 Oct 2026
Around October 27, Claude Code began receiving a server-side instruction that causes sessions to refuse game-related development work.
Fact 6 of 10 · from GitHub (issue filed by a user), 30 Oct 2026
Narrow the instruction to target actual infringement
Fact 7 of 10 · from GitHub (issue filed by a user), 30 Oct 2026
the Fin bot on two accounts stated the policy "applies to all customers without exception" and that no exemption or verification path exists for commercial professionals.
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Check our sources
Every sentence above is checked against these 2 sources.
1 Server-delivered "games" instruction blocks professional development work (claude-code issue 106167)
Open the source archived copy-
A GitHub issue titled "Server-delivered "games" instruction blocks professional development work" was opened on the anthropics/claude-code repository on 30 October 2026.
citeServer-delivered "games" instruction blocks professional development work #106167
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The issue's author writes that around October 27, Claude Code began receiving a server-side instruction that causes sessions to refuse game-related development work.
citeAround October 27, Claude Code began receiving a server-side instruction that causes sessions to refuse game-related development work.
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The issue's author says he runs Conflict Simulations LLC, which builds personalized digital modules of board wargames under paid commission for individual clients, from games the clients own.
citeI run Conflict Simulations LLC. My business builds personalized digital modules of board wargames under paid commission for individual clients, from games the clients own.
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The issue's author says sessions that performed this work for months now refuse to continue it, citing a new instruction against reproducing games.
citeSessions that performed this work for months now refuse to continue it, citing the new instruction against reproducing games.
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The issue's author lists the environment as Claude Code, Opus 5.5 sessions, on multiple machines and two paid accounts (Max and Team).
citeEnvironment: Claude Code, Opus 5.5 sessions, multiple machines and two paid accounts (Max and Team).
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The issue's author asks Anthropic to narrow the instruction to infringement, to provide a verification or exemption path for professionals, and to document server-delivered instruction changes of this scope in the Claude Code changelog.
citeNarrow the instruction to target actual infringement
-
In a follow-up comment the author says Anthropic's support bot stated on two accounts that the policy applies to all customers without exception and that no exemption or verification path exists.
citethe Fin bot on two accounts stated the policy "applies to all customers without exception" and that no exemption or verification path exists for commercial professionals.
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The issue does not quote the text of the instruction.
citeError Messages/Logs Steps to Reproduce In a Claude Code session, request continuation of commissioned board wargame module work
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As of 3 November 2026 the issue was open and had ten comments.
citeOpen Open Server-delivered "games" instruction blocks professional development work #106167
2 Settings files and precedence - Claude Code Docs
Open the source archived copy-
Anthropic's Claude Code documentation says Claude Code's system prompt isn't published.
cite
Every sentence above is checked against these 2 sources. Each fact has its own address you can cite.
Source 1 · GitHub (issue filed by a user) · 30 Oct 2026
Server-delivered "games" instruction blocks professional development work (claude-code issue 106167)
A GitHub issue titled "Server-delivered "games" instruction blocks professional development work" was opened on the anthropics/claude-code repository on 30 October 2026.
Server-delivered "games" instruction blocks professional development work #106167
The issue's author writes that around October 27, Claude Code began receiving a server-side instruction that causes sessions to refuse game-related development work.
Around October 27, Claude Code began receiving a server-side instruction that causes sessions to refuse game-related development work.
The issue's author says he runs Conflict Simulations LLC, which builds personalized digital modules of board wargames under paid commission for individual clients, from games the clients own.
I run Conflict Simulations LLC. My business builds personalized digital modules of board wargames under paid commission for individual clients, from games the clients own.
Show all 9 factsShow fewer facts
The issue's author says sessions that performed this work for months now refuse to continue it, citing a new instruction against reproducing games.
Sessions that performed this work for months now refuse to continue it, citing the new instruction against reproducing games.
The issue's author lists the environment as Claude Code, Opus 5.5 sessions, on multiple machines and two paid accounts (Max and Team).
Environment: Claude Code, Opus 5.5 sessions, multiple machines and two paid accounts (Max and Team).
The issue's author asks Anthropic to narrow the instruction to infringement, to provide a verification or exemption path for professionals, and to document server-delivered instruction changes of this scope in the Claude Code changelog.
Narrow the instruction to target actual infringement
In a follow-up comment the author says Anthropic's support bot stated on two accounts that the policy applies to all customers without exception and that no exemption or verification path exists.
the Fin bot on two accounts stated the policy "applies to all customers without exception" and that no exemption or verification path exists for commercial professionals.
The issue does not quote the text of the instruction.
Error Messages/Logs Steps to Reproduce In a Claude Code session, request continuation of commissioned board wargame module work
As of 3 November 2026 the issue was open and had ten comments.
Open Open Server-delivered "games" instruction blocks professional development work #106167
Source 2 · Anthropic
Settings files and precedence - Claude Code Docs
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