The White House has removed its controversial online game “Build the Wall” after The Tetris Company raised concerns over potential copyright infringement.
The game was part of a new White House online arcade featuring five retro-style games promoting different elements of President Donald Trump’s political agenda. “Build the Wall” closely resembled the classic Tetris format, with players stacking blocks to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Tetris Company said it was not involved in creating the game and had not authorized or licensed the use of the Tetris brand or intellectual property. The company also said it takes copyright infringement seriously and was reviewing the matter.
The game was removed from the White House website on September 8, just days after the Tetris Company publicly addressed the issue. The White House has not confirmed whether the copyright concerns directly led to the game’s removal.
“Build the Wall” was designed around a border-security theme, instructing players to protect the border from a fictional “zombie border siege.” The game attracted criticism not only over its similarity to Tetris but also over its portrayal of immigration and border policy.
The White House arcade still features other games inspired by familiar titles. These include “Rio Run,” which resembles the classic game Snake and focuses on immigration enforcement, along with games promoting other Trump administration policies.
The controversy has renewed debate over the use of popular video-game formats and intellectual property for political messaging. The Tetris Company emphasized that the original game has a long history of bringing people together and distancing itself from the political message associated with “Build the Wall.”