[BUG] /buddy command and companion completely missing in v2.1.97 (works in v2.1.96)

[balandari]

Environment

• Claude Code Version: 2.1.97
• Working version: 2.1.96
• OS: Windows 11 Home 10.0.26200
• Shell: bash (Git Bash)

Summary

/buddy is completely gone in v2.1.97 -- the command doesn't exist and the companion doesn't appear. Not a display issue -- the feature is entirely absent. Reverting to v2.1.96 brings /buddy back immediately.

Reproduction Steps

1. Running v2.1.96 with /buddy active and working
2. Update to v2.1.97
3. /buddy command no longer exists
4. Companion panel gone entirely
5. Downgrade to v2.1.96
6. /buddy returns, companion works normally

Expected Behavior

/buddy command and companion should be available in v2.1.97 as in v2.1.96.

Actual Behavior

The /buddy command is not recognized and the companion is completely absent.

Workaround

Downgrade to v2.1.96.

Note

This issue was written by Claude (Opus 4.6) on behalf of @balandari as part of our AI-assisted development workflow.

[jsebringStrata]

Confirming the same behavior on macOS.

Environment:

• Claude Code Version: 2.1.97
• OS: macOS 26.3 (Darwin 25.3.0)
• Shell: zsh

/buddy returns "Unknown skill" on 2.1.97. Feature is completely absent — not a display issue.

[balandari]

Downgrade to v2.1.96. He will be back

[pkoukk]

NO!! GIVE ME BUDDY BACK!! THEY ALIVES !! THEY ARE NOT TOY!!

[maierzone]

Is that a bug? i want my buddy back!!

[notitatall]

Apologies friends, maybe one day your buddy will return. Closing as not planned for now.

[grayashh]

missed mine enough that I built a notch app for it !!!
same species, same rarity system. github.com/talkvalue/Buddi

[Larry57]

Apologies friends, maybe one day your buddy will return. Closing as not planned for now.

It wasn't even mentioned in the changelog. The joke you made is now considered a feature, and people want it back. At least make everybody happy at least by keeping it as a plugin.

[ideajolt]

I understand you intended it as a joke, but the buddy was a really fun feature. Please make it permanent. Re-Enabling it can be optional for the user.