War of Titans: Sony Takes Tencent to Court Over a Game “Too Similar”
In an unexpected but bold move, Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against the Chinese conglomerate Tencent, alleging that one of their video games reproduces, without authorization, multiple key elements of one of their most recognized franchises: Horizon.
The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in California, where Sony claims that the title Light of Motiram, developed by Tencent, not only takes inspiration from Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, but directly copies, in a “brazen” manner, its content. Among the elements pointed out are the post-apocalyptic setting, the mechanized creatures, the visual style, the narrative, and even a character reminiscent of Alloy, the protagonist of the saga developed by Guerrilla Games.
Sony is not only seeking to stop the release of Tencent’s game. They are also looking for financial compensation that could reach up to $150,000 for each infringed work, or an amount equivalent to the actual damages caused by the alleged copyright and trademark infringement.
### From inspiration to imitation: Where is the limit?
Light of Motiram was introduced in November 2024 as a survival game set in a world controlled by mechs. Initially, its concept did not differ much from other titles in the genre: resource gathering, base building, exploration of hostile environments, and battles against large enemies. But for Sony, the similarities do not end on the surface.
According to the legal documents presented, the game’s trailer showed scenes and characters that bore resemblance to the Horizon saga, both in its aesthetics and narrative development. Even specialized media that analyzed the initial promotional materials went as far as to describe it as a direct copy, with headlines calling it a “blatant clone.”
Sony goes further to explain that Tencent allegedly tried to originally obtain an official license to develop a Horizon game, a proposal that was rejected by the Japanese company. However, shortly after, Tencent proceeded with a development that, according to Sony, aimed to capitalize visually and conceptually on the franchise’s popularity without their consent.
### A risky maneuver that could cost Tencent dearly
The fact that Tencent first attempted to negotiate with Sony a license to develop a video game set in the Horizon universe reinforces the accusation that Light of Motiram is more than a coincidence. According to the lawsuit documents, after Sony’s refusal, Tencent decided to move forward with the project, while maintaining numerous similar elements.
What is most striking is that, in response to Sony’s initial claim in early 2025, Tencent did not deny the similarities. Instead, they offered to pay for the use of the brand, a reaction that, for the Japanese company, confirms the infringement. This response was interpreted as a tacit admission that Light of Motiram directly draws from Sony’s intellectual property, and that its promotion could mislead consumers.
The lawsuit highlights a growing concern in the industry: the increasing frequency with which some titles emerge with aesthetics or mechanics that dangerously border on plagiarism. While influences and common trends are common in game development, the courts will have to determine whether in this case a legal and ethical line has been crossed.
For now, Light of Motiram still has no defined release date, and its future could be at stake depending on the progress of the litigation. If the ruling favors Sony, the impact will not only be financial: it will set an important precedent in the defense of intellectual property in the interactive entertainment industry.
