Sony has taken legal action against Chinese gaming powerhouse Tencent, alleging that the company developed a strikingly similar version of its popular Horizon game series. The disputed game, Light of Motiram, has faced heavy criticism since its announcement due to its numerous resemblances to the Horizon franchise, and Sony's lawsuit has intensified the controversy.

Light of Motiram was unveiled in November 2024 and quickly drew comparisons to Horizon because of its visual and thematic parallels. Developed by Tencent subsidiary Polaris Quest, this upcoming open-world adventure game faced backlash from both gamers and media outlets, who pointed out its uncanny resemblance to Guerrilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. While many games take inspiration from others, the similarities between Light of Motiram and Horizon were deemed too overt to overlook.

Sony has now escalated the matter by filing a lawsuit against Tencent in a California federal court on July 25. As reported by Reuters, Sony accuses Tencent of copyright and trademark infringement, claiming that Light of Motiram is a "blatant copy" of the Horizon series. The lawsuit highlights identical gameplay mechanics, character designs, and world-building themes, particularly focusing on a red-haired, bow-wielding protagonist who closely mirrors Aloy, the lead character in Horizon.

The legal complaint also emphasizes the similarities in Light of Motiram's post-apocalyptic setting, where nature and machines coexist, as well as the inclusion of mechanized creatures called "Mechanimals." Additionally, the game features a taming mechanic for these machines, which Sony argues is nearly identical to Horizon's override system. Sony contends that these resemblances are not accidental, revealing that Tencent had previously sought to license the Horizon IP, an offer Sony rejected.

Beyond seeking statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, Sony is pushing for a court injunction to halt Light of Motiram's release and compel Tencent to destroy all related promotional materials. Sony asserts that Tencent's actions have caused market confusion, with some players mistakenly believing Light of Motiram is an official Horizon sequel or spin-off.

Public sentiment has been largely negative, with critics derisively dubbing the game "Horizon Zero Originality" and condemning Tencent for its lack of subtlety in borrowing from Horizon. This lawsuit emerges amid other high-profile cases, such as Nintendo's legal battle against Palworld developer Pocket Pair, raising broader questions about the boundaries of creative inspiration in gaming. Currently, Light of Motiram remains listed on Steam without a confirmed release date, though its future may hinge on the lawsuit's outcome.

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