Playing Politics: September 2026

George Osborn's September 2026 edition of the Playing Politics column in Video Games Industry Memo argues that the games industry should publicly distance itself from the Trump administration's use of video game imagery in its messaging. Only the opening section is available, since the remainder sits behind a paywall. That section sets out the thesis and the issues the full column covers.

The central opinion piece responds to two recent episodes. The White House launched an online arcade featuring five Trump-themed versions of popular video games, designed to promote administration talking points. The following week, the administration used the announcement of an Ocarina of Time remake as the hook for a social media video showing an N64-style Trump adventuring into the Oval Office, which Osborn describes as copyright-baiting. Rights holders including Nintendo and Sega, whose properties were used, have stayed conspicuously silent.

Osborn contends that the industry's apparent belief that silence is the safest course is mistaken. He says companies should clearly and consistently state that they play no part in the administration's messaging, or risk being tarnished by unchallenged association. He draws on his earlier writing about American populism's links to games and about why the White House keeps using game memes on social media.

The column's summary also flags two other items: a report that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is considering merging Savvy Games and Electronic Arts, and a recommendation of Anu Bradford's book Digital Empires as the month's reading. Osborn also mentions that he is traveling to Oxford for the Christchurch Call Foundation's Action Forum. Full access requires a paid VGIM Insider subscription, so supporting detail on the merger idea and the book is not available.