A Tetris-styled game featured in the White House's virtual arcade, titled "Build the Wall," has been removed. This disappearance follows a public statement from The Tetris Company expressing its stance on copyright infringement and distancing itself from the game. The company stated, "We take copyright infringement very seriously." ![Screen of White House's "Build the Wall" Tetris clone]( "Build the Wall" game screenshot)
The virtual arcade, launched by the White House, included five games, with "Build the Wall" being one of them. Unlike previous instances where game properties were used without permission, The Tetris Company actively responded. In a statement on Instagram, the company emphasized its values, saying, "At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them." They clarified that they were not involved in the creation of the game.
"Build the Wall" was designed to promote elements of then-President Donald Trump's agenda, specifically focusing on immigration. The gameplay involved stacking blocks to represent a wall intended to prevent individuals, described as "the coming horde" and notably depicted as Mexicans, from entering the US. The game was described as poorly executed but undeniably a clone of Tetris.
The removal of "Build the Wall" was first noted by This Week in Video Games. Archived records from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine indicate the game was still accessible as of approximately 9 p.m. ET on September 7. The exact timing of its removal remains unknown.
This situation contrasts with other instances where the White House has incorporated various video game properties into its promotional materials and social media posts. Franchises such as Halo, Destiny 2, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, and Pokémon, as well as logos for Xbox, Nintendo, and Sega, have been featured. The Pokémon Company previously stated it had not granted permission for its characters' use, and reports suggested Japan's Foreign Ministry had privately requested the US government cease such usage. This marks one of the first public instances of a company directly addressing the unauthorized use of its intellectual property by the White House and implying potential action.
While there is no confirmed direct link between The Tetris Company's warning and the game's subsequent removal, the timing is notable. It is possible that the removal is coincidental, or it could suggest a broader lesson for other intellectual property holders regarding pushing back against unauthorized use. Inquiries have been made to The Tetris Company and the White House for further clarification on whether the removal was related to the copyright warning.