Sony Takes Legal Action Against Tencent Over Game Similarities
In a bold move, Sony has filed a lawsuit against Tencent, alleging that the soon-to-be-released game, Light of Motiram, is nothing short of a “slavish clone” of its acclaimed Horizon series.
The lawsuit claims that after the initial development of Light of Motiram began, Tencent approached Sony with a proposal to collaborate on a new Horizon game. Sony declined, considering the matter closed, but Tencent forged ahead with its own version anyway.
“Upon information and belief, sometime in 2023, Tencent started developing a video game called Light of Motiram which – just like Horizon – features a young, red-headed female protagonist and tribal groups battling for survival against mechanical creatures in a post-apocalyptic setting,” the lawsuit details.
At a gaming conference in March 2024, Tencent executives reportedly pitched their idea to Sony, suggesting a collaborative Horizon game. After Sony turned them down, it appears Tencent continued its development of Light of Motiram in secret, eventually revealing promotional materials with strong resemblances to Sony’s own.
Sony’s complaint highlights how numerous online users and content creators have drawn parallels between Light of Motiram and the Horizon franchise, indicating that the similarities aren’t lost on the gaming community. Among them, Reddit users expressed their outrage, with one noting the lack of effort in changing distinguishing features, while another referenced a similar situation involving Nintendo.
Light of Motiram is being developed by Polaris Quest, a subsidiary of Tencent, and is billed as an open-world adventure set in a landscape where human civilization has collapsed. The game features mechanimals—robotic versions of animals like a gorilla, deer, and bull, adding a unique twist to its setting.
With the gaming community buzzing about these similarities, it’s worth asking: what does this legal battle mean for the industry? As developers push creative boundaries, the line between inspiration and imitation is becoming increasingly blurred, raising questions about intellectual property rights in the gaming world.