Tetris Company Denies Involvement in White House Game

The Tetris Company has confirmed it was not involved with a politically themed game posted on the White House website. The company also issued a statement distancing itself from the game's message.

The White House recently added an arcade section to its site featuring knock-offs of classic games like Flappy Bird and Snake. One title, called 'Build the Wall', is a reskinned version of Tetris. In this game, players stack tetrominoes labeled as a wall on a map of the 'Southern Border' to stop a 'zombie border siege'. The blocks never clear as zombies advance.

Official Response on Instagram

The Tetris Company responded via an Instagram post. The company wrote, 'At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them.' The post directly addressed its community, stating, 'To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we're grateful to have you in our community.'

The statement included two clarifications. It first said, 'The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of 'Build the Wall'.' A follow-up point added, 'We take copyright infringement very seriously.'

Broader Context of Game Appropriation

This incident is part of a pattern of US government agencies using video game imagery for political messaging. The report notes previous examples include the Department of Homeland Security creating a Pokémon-themed campaign and using Halo's 'Destroy the Flood' as a recruitment message. The White House also previously used AI to depict former President Donald Trump as Master Chief from Halo.

Other game creators have objected to similar uses of their work. Marcus Lehto, co-creator of Halo, called the appropriation of his work 'absolutely abhorrent'. The Pokémon Company has also stated that permission was not granted for the use of its intellectual property in government campaigns.

Reaction to Political Use of Games

The PC Gamer report frames this use of games as a tool for propaganda by a conservative government. It notes the irony, pointing out that figures who often argue politics should be kept out of games are now defending their use for political purposes. The article describes the overall situation as a 'circus' that renders observers 'stupider for having to pay attention'.

The Tetris Company's statement focuses on unity over division. Its public disavowal of the 'Build the Wall' game marks a clear separation from the political message embedded in the unofficial clone. The company's emphasis on copyright suggests legal concerns may follow its public condemnation.