The White House removed a controversial game from its newly launched Arcade.gov website following public backlash and legal threats. The government site, which debuted last week, featured five browser-based games designed to promote the Trump administration’s policies. One game in particular drew significant criticism for its inflammatory messaging.
“Build the Wall,” a Tetris-style puzzle game, challenged players to protect borders from what the game described as an incoming threat, incorporating openly anti-immigrant rhetoric. The game’s controversial content and messaging sparked accusations of racism across social media and news outlets within days of the arcade site’s launch.
The official Tetris Company responded swiftly, issuing a statement that emphasized its commitment to unity rather than division. The company explicitly denied any involvement in creating “Build the Wall” and signaled potential copyright infringement litigation against the White House, noting in its statement that it takes intellectual property violations seriously.
Within 24 hours of the Tetris Company’s warning, the White House quietly removed the problematic game from Arcade.gov. While it remains unclear whether formal legal action was pursued, the administration’s swift removal suggests the threat of litigation was sufficient motivation. The arcade website now displays only four games, with “Build the Wall” no longer accessible to players.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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