The White House has removed a Tetris-style video game called “Build the Wall” from its online arcade, days after The Tetris Company raised concerns about the unauthorised use of its intellectual property.
The game was part of a collection of five retro-style titles launched on the White House website as part of an effort by the Trump administration to promote its policies through popular culture.
“Build the Wall” featured falling blocks that players had to arrange to construct a border wall. The game carried the subtitle “Zombie Border Siege” and instructed players to protect the border from a “coming horde.”
The Tetris Company said it had no involvement in the game's creation and had not authorised or licensed the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the project. The company also said it takes copyright infringement seriously and was reviewing the matter.
The White House has not publicly explained why the game was removed. Its page was no longer available on the government website after the company raised its concerns, although other games from the online arcade remained accessible.
The arcade has attracted wider criticism because several of its games are based on familiar video-game formats while promoting aspects of President Donald Trump's political agenda, particularly his immigration policies.
The removal highlights the legal and creative challenges that can arise when established entertainment brands and game formats are used for political messaging without approval from their rights holders.
For now, the White House has not indicated whether “Build the Wall” will return in a modified form or whether the administration plans to respond to The Tetris Company's concerns