### Anthropic’s AI, Claude, Faces Challenges in Completing *Pokémon Red* on Twitch

Last month, the AI company Anthropic, valued at $61.5 billion, initiated a gaming livestream on [Twitch](https://mashable.com/category/twitch). While gaming broadcasts are a regular occurrence on the platform, this one is unique—Anthropic’s AI model, Claude, is attempting to finish *Pokémon Red*.

Now, a month into the initiative, [the livestream persists](https://www.twitch.tv/claudeplayspokemon/), but Claude’s advancement has been sluggish. At this pace, the AI might never fulfill its aspiration of becoming the supreme Pokémon Master.

### Claude’s Initial Challenges

When Anthropic initially [launched](https://x.com/AnthropicAI/status/1894419011569344978) the “Claude Plays Pokémon” endeavor, earlier iterations of the AI struggled with even fundamental gameplay elements. For example, in June 2024, Claude 3.5 consistently attempted to escape from almost every encounter, making progression exceedingly difficult.

However, following multiple updates, the AI exhibited notable enhancement. In February 2025, Anthropic evaluated Claude 3.7 Sonnet on the game, and the outcomes were encouraging.

*”Within a few hours, Claude overcame Brock. Days later, it conquered Misty,”* Anthropic reported. *”Achievements that older models had little chance of realizing.”*

Distinct from its earlier versions, Claude 3.7 Sonnet showcased the capability to strategize, recollect goals, and learn from previous errors. It could also interpret visual data, create a knowledge repository, and simulate key presses.

### Progress Hits a Standstill

Despite its early achievements, Claude 3.7 Sonnet has now encountered a barrier.

For instance, [viewers observed](https://futurism.com/advanced-ai-stuck-pokemon) as the AI took an incredible *78 hours* to traverse Mt. Moon—an area that usually takes a child merely a few hours to finish. On [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1j1cbh5/claude_escapes_mt_moon_after_78_hours/), gamers shared their astonishment at the lengthy duration required by the AI to progress through the segment.

Claude often circles aimlessly, collides with walls, and has difficulty navigating. While the livestream remains captivating—especially with a text box showcasing Claude’s reasoning—its performance underscores the AI’s limitations.

### AI’s Abilities and Drawbacks

According to Anthropic engineers in an [interview with *Ars Technica*](https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/03/why-anthropics-claude-still-hasnt-beaten-pokemon/), Claude excels in the text-based elements of the game, such as Pokémon battles. However, it encounters challenges with visual tasks, like traveling between towns on the map.

Although Claude 3.7 Sonnet has progressed further than earlier versions, its difficulties indicate that AI is still significantly from mastering intricate human-like problem-solving. For those apprehensive about AI taking control of the world anytime soon—Claude still has 151 Pokémon to capture.