Sony has filed a major lawsuit against Chinese gaming giant Tencent, accusing the company of creating a near-identical copy of its acclaimed Horizon game series. The game at the center of the controversy, Light of Motiram, has drawn intense scrutiny since its reveal due to the slew of similarities it shares with the Horizon franchise, and now, legal action has escalated the situation dramatically.
Light of Motiram was first revealed in November 2024 and was immediately compared to the Horizon franchise due to its visual and thematic similarities. Developed by Tencent subsidiary Polaris Quest, the upcoming open-world adventure game prompted backlash from gamers and the media, who noted its striking resemblance to Guerrilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. Although games frequently draw inspiration from others, the parallels between Light of Motiram and Horizon were deemed too blatant to ignore.
Thanks to Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, Horizon 3 is Unlikely to Inherit One PlayStation Trend
If Zero Dawn and Forbidden West paint a portrait of the series' future, Horizon 3 may not be the threequel to move many mountains.
Now, Sony is taking action against Light of Motiram and its obvious Horizon influences with a lawsuit against Tencent, filed on July 25 in a California federal court. First reported by Reuters, Sony's lawsuit accuses Tencent of copyright and trademark infringement, arguing that Light of Motiram is a "slavish clone" of the Horizon series, citing identical gameplay elements, character designs, and setting themes. The complaint specifically highlights a red-haired, bow-wielding female protagonist who closely resembles Aloy, the central character of the Horizon games.
Tencent Wanted to License the Horizon IP, But Sony Refused
The lawsuit also points to similarities in Light of Motiram's post-apocalyptic setting where nature and machines coexist, mechanized creatures called "Mechanimals," and a gameplay feature involving taming these machines - extremely similar to Horizon's override mechanic. Sony says these resemblances aren't coincidental, noting that Tencent had previously approached the company to license the Horizon IP, an offer the PlayStation parent declined. In addition to seeking statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each infringed work, Sony wants a court order to block the release of Light of Motiram and force Tencent to surrender all related promotional material for destruction.
Sony alleges that Tencent's actions are causing market confusion, with some gamers even mistakenly believing that Light of Motiram is an official Horizon sequel or spin-off. Public reaction has been overwhelmingly critical, with many mockingly labeling the game "Horizon Zero Originality" and lambasting Tencent for not even making the Horizon influences subtle. Sony's lawsuit comes at a time when similar cases, like Nintendo's lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocket Pair, are raising questions about the limits of creative inspiration. For now, Light of Motiram remains listed on Steam with no confirmed release date, but this could change depending on how the lawsuit goes.
- Date Founded
- May 7, 1946
- Headquarters
- Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
- Subsidiaries
- Sony Pictures, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Imagesoft, Sony Online Entertainment
- Consoles
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PSP
- Known For
- PlayStation