Highlights
- Godot bans substantial AI-generated code contributions.
- New contributors now need approval for major code changes.
- The policy aims to reduce reviewer workload and improve code quality.
Godot has introduced stricter contribution policies, banning substantial AI-generated code while raising the bar for new contributors. The Godot Foundation reported that the changes were prompted by a growing influx of AI-generated submissions, which have worsened an existing review backlog caused by limited qualified reviewers despite rising community contributions. Announced on June 30, 2026, the new rules are intended to reduce review workloads while building a stronger maintainer pipeline.
Contributors with three or fewer merged pull requests must now receive approval before submitting new features or major refactoring. Instead, they are encouraged to contribute bug fixes and documentation first.
According to the Foundation, the backlog has grown over several years due to rising community interest, strict review standards, and a shortage of reviewers.
Godot Bans AI-Generated Code and Autonomous AI Agents
Godot will no longer accept substantial AI-generated code contributions. The use of autonomous AI agents and "vibe coding" also remains prohibited. Violations will continue to result in an automatic ban from the project's GitHub repository.
Developers can still use AI for limited tasks such as code completion or regular expressions.
However, any AI-assisted code must be disclosed in pull request discussions. The Foundation also banned AI-generated text in human-to-human communication. Every pull request must continue to receive human review before it is merged.
Godot Says Reviewer Burden has Reached a Breaking Point
The Foundation pointed out that AI-generated submissions have widened the gap between incoming pull requests and the people available to review them. It added that reviewing AI-generated code has become less rewarding because maintainers are no longer helping contributors develop their skills through feedback.
"It is time for us to recognize that these problems aren't going away," Godot stated. It added that the new policies are meant to reduce the burden on maintainers while continuing to develop future reviewers and maintainers.
The organization also clarified that it will continue to review its AI policies as AI tools evolve.
