10 February 2026

AI Builds Fully Playable Pokemon Clone

By newsgame

An AI user has created a playable Pokemon clone using a very simple prompt and no manual actions, raising concerns about potential copyright issues caused by artificial intelligence. Pokemon is one of the largest IPs in the video game industry and has inspired many clones in the past, mostly consisting of indie games that copy its core gameplay or visual style. However, this appears to be one of the earliest cases of a clone made entirely with AI in just a few hours, with almost no human intervention or coding.

Many developers and gamers believe AI can enhance games when used as a creativity-boosting tool rather than a cost-cutting shortcut. Some also believe AI will soon generate full video games from simple prompts and that the technology represents the industry’s future. While most people see fully AI-built games as an ambitious goal, current models can already create small, simple games from user instructions. The AI-generated Pokemon replica recently shared on social media is one clear example.

AI is Having Problems Beating Pokemon Red

An AI is doing something rather remarkable in playing through Pokemon Red, but it’s having a much harder time than a real player would.

Claude 4.6 Builds a Pokemon Clone in 90 Minutes

A Twitter user named Chris (@chatgpt21) has shared a snippet of their AI-made clone of Pokemon, showcasing two minutes of gameplay. The clip includes a Pokemon-style “starter character” selection and a battle between Charmander and Rattata. Although the graphics of this clone are fairly simplistic and pixelated, the fact that it seems fully functional with NPCs, dialogues, points of interest, and even some sound effects has gained many people’s attention.

The player can be seen walking around freely, talking to other characters, and even shopping in the AI-built stores. There is a Pokemon healing center in the game that refills the critters’ HP, as well as a Poke Mart that sells Pokemon items like Poke Balls and healing potions. Almost all the NPCs have dialogue that offers hints to the player or guides them through the area, though no wild Pokemon can be seen in the video.

According to Chris, Claude Opus 4.6 was the only tool used for the generation. “I told Claude Opus 4.6 to make a Pokemon clone,” they claim in a Twitter post, adding that the model “reasoned for 1 hour and 30 minutes” to create the final product. Based on their responses to other Twitter users, the model seems to have chosen a Gameboy-era visual style on its own and decided to name it Pokemon Fire Red, possibly inspired by the actual Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen.

The AI Pokemon Clone Seems to Include Copyrighted Material

One controversial aspect of the AI Pokemon clone is its use of copyrighted material, including character names and core gameplay mechanics. The game is explicitly titled Pokemon Fire Red, with no parody or alternate naming, and begins with a starter selection featuring Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. The combat footage also shows the player throwing a Poke Ball, a central tech in Pokemon games that Nintendo has historically tried to protect.

This Was Not the User’s Only Attempt at Cloning Games

A look at Chris’s Twitter profile shows the Pokemon replica is not their only AI-generated game. They have also shared clips of a voxel-style Minecraft clone and previously created other Pokemon copies, though none appear as smooth or playable as the Fire Red version.

Cloning Video Games with AI May Have Legal Consequences

Creating a copy of a video game with AI tools may constitute copyright infringement depending on substantial similarity in protected elements, as seen in prior Pokemon clone lawsuits. Even without plans to sell or profit from an AI-generated game, copyright holders like Nintendo could still pursue legal action. Beyond legal risks, community backlash is also likely. Many fandoms have grown increasingly hostile toward AI-generated “slop,” and even major publishers like Take-Two have voiced concerns about using AI due to negative player reactions. As a result, it remains unclear how Pokemon fans will respond to the AI-built Pokemon Fire Red.