The Tetris Company has publicly distanced itself from a newly launched game called "Build the Wall," featured on the Trump administration's Arcade.Gov website. The game, which presents players with the objective to "Protect the border from the coming horde," has drawn significant backlash online, prompting a response from the creators of the beloved puzzle game.
In a statement, The Tetris Company emphasized its core values, declaring, "At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them." The company affirmed its commitment to its global community, stating, "To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we're grateful to have you in our community." They also confirmed that they had no involvement with the "Build the Wall" game and that they take copyright infringement "very seriously."
Despite the strong statement, The Tetris Company has not yet initiated legal action regarding the game. The Arcade.Gov website, which launched recently, features several other games with politically charged themes, including a Flappy Bird clone titled "Flappy Bill" and a Snake clone called "Rio Run." Other titles on the site include prompts such as "border patrol along the Rio Grande" and "fill your kids' Trump accounts."
The website's launch was met with immediate criticism from internet users, many of whom called on the companies whose intellectual property appeared to be used or referenced to take action. While some companies have yet to comment, Tetris has been notably vocal. Many fans online have pointed out the irony, noting that Tetris is typically about clearing lines and constructing, not about building literal walls for division.
Kerri Brusca of The Tetris Company further elaborated to The Verge, stating, "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."
This incident follows a pattern of controversial moves by the Trump administration that have touched upon video game culture. Previously, the administration faced criticism for referencing the Halo series, which prompted responses from Microsoft and prominent figures associated with the franchise, such as actor Steve Downes. Similar to that instance, The Pokémon Company also spoke out against its intellectual property being used in a controversial context.