Sonyhas filed a major lawsuit against Chinese gaming giant Tencent, accusing the company of creating a near-identical copy of its acclaimedHorizongame 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 theHorizonfranchise, and now, legal action has escalated the situation dramatically.
Light of Motiramwas first revealed in November 2024 and was immediately compared to theHorizonfranchise due to its visual and thematic similarities. Developed byTencent subsidiaryPolaris Quest, the upcoming open-world adventure game prompted backlash from gamers and the media, who noted its striking resemblance to Guerrilla Games’Horizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden West. Although games frequently draw inspiration from others, the parallels betweenLight of MotiramandHorizonwere deemed too blatant to ignore.
Now, Sony is taking action againstLight of Motiramand its obviousHorizoninfluenceswith a lawsuit against Tencent, filed on July 25 in a California federal court. Firstreported by Reuters, Sony’s lawsuit accuses Tencent of copyright and trademark infringement, arguing thatLight of Motiramis a “slavish clone” of theHorizonseries, 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 theHorizongames.
Tencent Wanted to License the Horizon IP, But Sony Refused
The lawsuit also points to similarities inLight 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 toHorizon’s override mechanic. Sony says these resemblances aren’t coincidental, noting that Tencent had previously approached the company to license theHorizonIP, an offer the PlayStation parent declined. In addition to seekingstatutory damages of up to $150,000for each infringed work, Sony wants a court order to block the release ofLight of Motiramand 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 thatLight of Motiramis an officialHorizonsequel 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 theHorizoninfluences subtle. Sony’s lawsuit comes at a time when similar cases, likeNintendo’s lawsuit againstPalworlddeveloper Pocket Pair, are raising questions about the limits of creative inspiration. For now,Light of Motiramremains listed on Steam with no confirmed release date, but this could change depending on how the lawsuit goes.
