The Tetris Company has publicly rebuked the U.S. government over a Tetris parody game titled "Build the Wall," which promotes rhetoric surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border. The company indicated it is prepared to take legal action against the unauthorized use of its intellectual property.
"Build the Wall" casts players in the role of stacking bricks along the "Southern border" to repel invading zombies, a mechanic distinct from the line-clearing objective of traditional Tetris. This game was released alongside other games inspired by the Trump administration, including parodies of Snake and Flappy Bird, some of which feature altered console logos from Sony, Nintendo, and Xbox. The platform holders have not yet commented on these games.
The Tetris Company released a statement on Instagram asserting, "At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them." The statement continued, "To our fans everywhere: we love you, and see you, and we're grateful to have you in our community." A caption accompanying the image clarified that "The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall,'" and that "we take copyright infringement very seriously."