Sony Is Suing Tencent for Alleged Horizon Copycat

Sony Interactive Entertainment has officially filed a lawsuit against Tencent over what it describes as blatant copyright and trademark infringement.

The issue centers around Light of Motiram, a game developed by Tencent that Sony claims is a near-carbon copy of its acclaimed Horizon franchise.

The complaint filed in California federal court says Tencent copied visuals, gameplay, and marketing from Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.

Sony says the similarities aren’t a coincidence, pointing to the red-haired female lead, tribal-style outfits, and futuristic machines that closely match Aloy’s world.

According to Sony’s lawsuit, the game’s title font and design are almost identical.

Did Tencent Try to Work With Sony First?

Tencent reportedly contacted Sony in 2024 at a gaming event to propose collaborating on a Horizon game.

Credit: Sony

Sony declined the pitch, assuming that would be the end of it. Regardless, Tencent carried on with Light of Motiram, which led Sony to bring up concerns in private earlier this year.

Attempts to resolve the issue behind closed doors failed when Tencent refused to halt development or alter the game.

Sony now seeks to block the game’s release entirely and is requesting financial compensation, including statutory damages that could reach $150,000 per instance of infringement.

What’s the Internet’s Verdict?

Gamers on Reddit and social media quickly said Light of Motiram is very similar to Horizon.

Credit: Guerrilla Games

Some joked that Tencent didn’t even try to hide it, calling the game “Horizon Zero Originality” and mocking its lack of distinct identity.

Sony states this confusion is more than a meme and threatens the Horizon brand since players might mistake Motiram for a new series installment.

Sony’s legal team included side-by-side comparisons in the court documents to support this argument.

While Tencent hasn’t publicly responded yet, the lawsuit could force major changes or delays in Light of Motiram’s launch, especially in Western markets where intellectual property laws are more strictly enforced.

Legal experts say Tencent might settle or rebrand the game to avoid further legal issues, but if the case moves forward, it could set an important precedent for how the gaming industry handles lookalike games, especially when previous collaboration offers were made.

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