White House pulls Tetris-like game after copyright dispute
The Trump White House briefly hosted a Tetris-like game called 'Build the Wall' on its website, promoting it as part of a new online arcade. After The Tetris Company objected, stating it hadn't authorized use of its intellectual property and took copyright infringement seriously, the game was removed. The company made clear it did not want its brand linked to divisive themes.
- 'Build the Wall' mimicked Tetris mechanics and style
- Game removed following Tetris Company's public objection
- Company emphasized its support for unity, not division
- White House Arcade page still hosts other games
Sources covering this
How it unfolded
- Ars Technica The White House made a "Tetris" clone. The Tetris Company was not amused.
- Gizmodo Trump White House Takes Down ‘Tetris’ For Xenophobes Game Over Copyright Threat
- Engadget The White House removed its border-wall Tetris clone
- TechCrunch White House takes down ‘Build the Wall’ game after the Tetris Company complains
More in Big Tech
Nvidia agrees to acquire Hugging Face for $12.9 billion
Nvidia has agreed to acquire AI platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion, marking one of its largest deals to date. Hugging Face is a widely used online repository for open-source AI models and tools, serving over 18 million developers and more than 200,000 companies. Both firms stated the platform will remain open, and users will not be required to use Nvidia’s hardware or services. The deal follows significant recent security incidents involving AI models on Hugging Face.
Apple unveils foldable iPhone and new CEO Wednesday
Apple plans to announce its first foldable iPhone at an event this Wednesday, September 9, at 10 a.m. Pacific. The company is also expected to show the iPhone 18 Pro line, new Apple Watches, and updated AirPods. It’s the first launch event with John Ternus as CEO, replacing Tim Cook, who’ll stay on as Executive Chair. Ternus told staff the upcoming launch will be “phenomenal.”
US opens investigation after Tesla Cybercab launch
Tesla has begun operating its new Cybercab robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, offering rides in vehicles with no steering wheel or pedals. Within hours of the launch, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started an investigation into whether these vehicles comply with federal safety regulations. Tesla reportedly self-certified the Cybercab. There are currently 45 vehicles in the Texas fleet, with plans for significant expansion.
Xbox Game Pass to limit monthly cloud gaming hours
Starting November 2026, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will face hard monthly limits on cloud gaming—15 hours for Ultimate, 10 for Premium, and 5 for Essential plans. If you hit that ceiling, you’ll need to buy extra hours through the Xbox Store. Microsoft says this change, citing server cost pressures, only affects about 4% of subscribers, but it marks the end of unlimited cloud play.