• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

In the U.S., Sony has sued Tencent, a Chinese technology company, accusing it of stealing parts of the Horizon games franchise for their game, Light of Motiram. Tencent's new game has been called a “slavish clone” of the two games, Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, which Sony's Guerrilla Games made. Sony stated this information in the lawsuit, which Reuters reported.

What Sparked the Lawsuit?

The game Tencent announced in November 2024, Light of Motiram, was placed on the “Most Anticipated List” for the Horizon games. Tencent approached Sony in 2024, looking to partner with them to create a game about Horizon, which Sony told them not to go ahead with. Later that year, Tencent released Light of Motiram, which they said obtained gameplay, story structures, and graphics from the Horizon series.

The lawsuit states that the two games share too many distinctive factors, making it easy for “customers” to be deceived into thinking that Light of Motiram is a spin-off of the Horizon series or it is somehow connected to it.

ALSO READ: Google Chrome Gets AI-Powered Store Summaries To Help Online Shoppers

Light of Motiram: A Controversial Reveal

One of Tencent’s Polaris Quest studio’s most recent games, Motiram’s Light, features a post-apocalyptic wilderness as well as tameable video game animals known as “Mechanimals.” This game’s plot closely resembles the robotic animals from Horizon’s gameplay and lore.

While the plot’s mechanics of Light of Motiram’s crafting and survival features are being compared to Palworld, the most notable criticism centres around its resemblance to Horizon. Though Tencent has yet to release a date, the game is available for wishlist on Steam.

Sony’s Demands and Legal Action

As for the light of Motiram, Sony is seeking both monetary and injunctive relief to restrain the release of the game in its current form. According to Sony, Motiram’s Light’s game mechanics fall well within the realms of copyright infringement as the game attempts to clone the Horizon series.

As for the gaming domain, mascots, and franchises, Sony's lawsuit has the potential to alter the way we define, guard, and litigate intellectual property, especially if a game is accused of replicating another game’s graphics and overall appearance.

Horizon Franchise Sales Hit 38 Million

When it comes to gaming series that showcase the sheer creativity of the industry, the Horizon series stands out as one of the most beloved. Court documents reveal critical details that Horizon Franchise fans would love to hear. The franchise is confirmed to have sold over 38 million copies.

This number compiles sales from the two flagship entries as well as all of their iterations: Horizon Zero Dawn (2017), Horizon Forbidden West (2022), The Frozen Wilds expansion, Lego Horizon Adventures, the remastered edition of Horizon Zero Dawn, and even the VR title Horizon Call of the Mountain.

ALSO READ: JioPC Launched: Virtual Desktop Service For JioFiber And AirFiber Users

With every game released, it serves to enhance Sony’s stature and credibility as the leader of gaming, giving every possible reason as to why they are so protective of their intellectual property.

Industry Reactions

Light of Motiram isn’t the only game surrounded by controversy. The game industry has always had a history of being accused of contrived cloning, whether on purpose or by accident, and succeeding legally. Genshin Impact, Palworld, and even Fortnite have all been accused of featuring mechanics from previously released games.

These lawsuits, especially the one against Tencent, would result in serious ramifications. They have essentially accused them of copying gameplay, plot, and even core visuals that would become compelling for the industry as a whole.

What’s Next?

So far, Tencent has not officially responded to the lawsuit. Depending on the lawsuit’s outcome, Tencent might have to change major features in Light of Motiram or settle out of court with Sony.

For the moment, the lawsuit has put a damper on Tencent's new game, which has already been receiving a lukewarm reception online due to its Horizon-inspired graphics.