WASHINGTON — The Tetris Company is distancing itself from a new White House video game that closely resembles the classic block-stacking game, saying it had no role in creating the game and did not authorize the use of its intellectual property.
The White House launched the whitehouse.gov/arcade website Thursday featuring six games. One of them, titled “Build the Wall,” instructs players to “Protect the border from the coming horde.”
The game depicts zombie-like foreign invaders attempting to cross the U.S. “southern border.” Players use falling blocks to construct a wall and prevent the characters from crossing.
In a statement posted to social media Friday, the Tetris Company said: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community.”
The company added: “P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’. P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously.”
The White House game carries the subtitle “ZOMBIE BORDER SIEGE.” As players build the wall, the invading characters bounce off it and disintegrate. The game ends when the blocks stack beyond the upper boundary, displaying the message “BORDER BREACHED.”
Asked whether the company was considering legal action over the game, a Tetris representative said it is “currently reviewing the matter.”
P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’.
P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously. pic.twitter.com/Fu02khRpT3
— Tetris (@Tetris_Official) September 4, 2026
“The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’ and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game,” the spokesperson said. “For more than 40 years, Tetris has brought people together across generations and cultures through play and joy. The objective of the game has always been to stack with purpose to clear as many lines as possible. We are currently reviewing the matter.”
The company says billions of Tetris games are played online each year, while more than 520 million units have been sold worldwide.
The Tetris brand’s global licensing network includes major video game publishers such as Nintendo and Sega, along with partners in electronics, toys and games, apparel, accessories, entertainment and other industries.
Tetris Holding LLC owns the worldwide rights to Tetris, and the Tetris Company is its exclusive licensee.
