Tetris Company distances itself from White House's immigration-themed clone game

The White House published six new browser-based arcade games on its website on Thursday, and one of them, called "Build the Wall," is unmistakably modeled on Tetris.

In the game, players stack and slot falling bricks to build a wall. Unlike in Tetris, completed rows are not cleared — instead the wall keeps growing to hold back an approaching "zombie horde." The wall sits near a vaguely labeled "Southern Border," making the game's anti-immigration message unmistakable. Constructing a wall along the entire US-Mexico border has been a stated policy goal across both of Donald Trump's presidential terms and remains an ongoing effort.

Tetris Company responds

The Tetris Company posted a statement on its Instagram account saying it believes in the power of connection and bringing people together, thanking its fan community. In the post's description, the company clarified that it was not involved in creating "Build the Wall" and that it takes copyright infringement very seriously.

When contacted by Engadget for comment, the company reiterated that it did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game. It noted that for more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations through play, with the core objective always being to stack pieces purposefully in order to clear as many lines as possible. The company said it is currently reviewing the matter.

Releasing a set of browser-based games fits the Trump administration's broader approach to online communication, which has frequently drawn on pop culture references and, at times, used artists' music without licensing it, leading to past DMCA takedown notices. Since Tetris is reportedly not the only property being used without permission in this batch of games, other titles in the collection could face similar copyright challenges.