TECHNOLOGY · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
White House Releases Racist Arcade Games, Tetris Company Responds
WHY IT MATTERS
The Tetris Company’s response signals possible legal action and underscores the risk of using copyrighted game designs for political messaging, raising concerns about intellectual property and civil rights.
What happened
The White House has launched a set of arcade‑style games that echo real titles, including a Tetris‑inspired title called "Build the Wall." In the game, players stack shapes to block a "zombie border siege" along the southern border, using the administration’s term "aliens" to refer to noncitizens.
The Tetris Company has publicly responded to the release, indicating disapproval of the use of its intellectual property for a political agenda.
The games have been criticized for containing racist themes and for appropriating well‑known game mechanics without permission.
PRIMARY SOURCES
The White House is making arcade games racist
The Verge · Gaby Del Valle · Discovery only; Vox Media copyright terms apply