[BUG] Artifact tool disappeared in 2.1.268 — worked through 2.1.263, feature code still in binary

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

The built-in Artifact tool (publishes a local HTML file at https://claude.ai/code/artifact/<uuid>) is no longer exposed in ANY session mode since updating to 2.1.268:

• Not present in interactive sessions
• Not present in SDK/headless sessions or their subagents
• Not present in claude -p print mode (even with --allowedTools Artifact)
• ToolSearch deferred-tool lookup select:Artifact,ArtifactData,ArtifactCheck,ArtifactComments returns "No matching deferred tools found"

The artifact feature code is still present in the 2.1.268 binary — strings for the tool's actions (publish, list_files, read_page_data, room_send, watch), code/artifact URLs, and the "Unrequested Artifact Publish" consent rule are all there. So the feature appears to be feature-flag gated off rather than removed. No changelog mention of a removal.

What Should Happen?

The Artifact tool should be available in interactive sessions as it was in 2.1.223–2.1.263 (verified working Aug 19 – Sep 10), or there should be a changelog/deprecation note if it was intentionally withdrawn.

Impact: previously published artifact URLs still render, but no new artifacts can be published and existing ones cannot be updated (republish by path or by url).

Error Messages/Logs

ToolSearch "select:Artifact,ArtifactData,ArtifactCheck,ArtifactComments" -> "No matching deferred tools found"
claude -p --allowedTools Artifact "<publish prompt>" -> model reports the Artifact tool is not in its toolset

Steps to Reproduce

1. Update to Claude Code 2.1.268 (native install, macOS arm64).
2. Start an interactive session and ask Claude to publish a local self-contained HTML file as an artifact -> Claude reports it has no Artifact tool.
3. Same result from an SDK/headless session, from its subagents, and from claude -p --allowedTools Artifact.
4. Compare with session transcripts from 2.1.223 (Aug 19), 2.1.247 (Sep 6), 2.1.263 (Sep 10) on the same machine/account, where Artifact tool calls succeeded and returned: Published <path> at https://claude.ai/code/artifact/<uuid>

Claude Model

Other

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

2.1.263

Claude Code Version

2.1.268 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Other

Additional Information

Timeline on one machine/account: 2.1.223 (Aug 19) OK -> 2.1.247 (Sep 6) OK -> 2.1.263 (Sep 10) OK -> 2.1.268 (Sep 14) missing everywhere.

Possibly relevant: re-running the retained 2.1.263 binary (~/.local/share/claude/versions/2.1.263) in -p mode on Sep 14 ALSO reports the tool unavailable — consistent with either print mode never exposing it, or a server-side flag changing between Sep 10 and Sep 14.

Login: claude.ai subscription. OS: Darwin 25.6.0, arm64.