The Tetris Company has publicly stated it had no involvement in a new White House game that closely resembles its iconic falling-block puzzle. The game, called Build the Wall, is one of six browser-based arcade titles released by the White House on Thursday and is designed around an immigration theme.
According to Engadget, The Tetris Company addressed the situation through a post on its Instagram account. "At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together," the company's post says. "To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we're grateful to have you in our community." The company also noted in the post's description that it "was not involved in the creation of Build the Wall" and that it "takes copyright infringement very seriously."
Build the Wall tasks players with stacking and slotting falling bricks into a growing wall. Successfully completing a line of bricks does not clear them from the board as in Tetris. Instead, the wall only grows, with the stated goal of holding back an approaching group described as a zombie horde. The wall is positioned near what the game labels the Southern Border.
When Engadget contacted The Tetris Company directly, the company reiterated its position and expanded on it. The company stated it "did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property" for Build the Wall. It added: "For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy. The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible. We are currently reviewing the matter."
Tetris is not the only intellectual property the White House appears to have borrowed without authorization for the six new games. The Trump administration has previously used gaming imagery, including Halo memes, to promote ICE recruitment, and has faced Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedowns after using musicians' work without a license. The Tetris Company's statement that it is reviewing the matter leaves open the possibility of further legal action.
