In a move that’s shaking up the gaming industry, Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a federal lawsuit against Tencent, accusing the Chinese tech giant of producing a “slavish clone” of its critically acclaimed Horizon franchise. The game in question? Light of Motiram, an upcoming open-world survival title developed by Tencent subsidiary Polaris Quest. But this isn’t just a case of similar aesthetics—it’s a clash of creative integrity, intellectual property, and the legacy of one of PlayStation’s most iconic series.
Sony’s complaint, filed on July 25, 2025, in a California federal court, outlines a damning narrative. According to the filing:
- Tencent allegedly approached Sony in March 2024 at a gaming conference, pitching a collaboration to develop a new Horizon game.
- Sony declined the offer, but Tencent reportedly continued development on Light of Motiram—a game Sony claims was already in progress before the pitch.
- The lawsuit cites near-identical elements: red-haired female protagonists in tribal attire, robotic creatures roaming post-apocalyptic landscapes, and even promotional art that mirrors Horizon Zero Dawn’s iconic visuals.
Sony is seeking up to $150,000 in damages per infringed work, an injunction to halt the game’s release, and the destruction of all infringing materials.
To understand the gravity of this lawsuit, we need to revisit what makes Horizon so special.
- Horizon Zero Dawn (2017) introduced players to Aloy, a skilled hunter navigating a world overrun by robotic beasts. Set in the 31st century, humanity has regressed into tribal societies after a technological apocalypse caused by self-replicating war machines.
- Horizon Forbidden West (2022) expanded the universe, diving deeper into the AI-driven terraforming system known as GAIA and its rogue subfunctions like HADES and HEPHAESTUS.
- The franchise has since grown to include comics, a board game, and even a Netflix adaptation in development.
What sets Horizon apart isn’t just its gameplay—it’s the lore. The series explores themes of ecological collapse, AI ethics, and the rediscovery of lost knowledge. Aloy’s journey is one of resilience, curiosity, and reclaiming humanity’s forgotten past.
The gaming industry has long wrestled with the blurry boundary between homage and theft. From Palworld’s Pokémon-esque creatures to Starfield’s nods to Mass Effect, developers often walk a tightrope between inspiration and infringement.
But Sony’s case against Tencent feels different. It’s not just about gameplay mechanics—it’s about identity. When a game mimics not only the visual style but also the narrative structure and character archetypes of a beloved franchise, it risks misleading players and diluting the original’s cultural impact.
As of now, Light of Motiram is listed on Steam with no confirmed release date. The game promises crossplay across PC, PS5, iOS, and Android, and features “Mechanimals” in a post-human world set in 2068. Whether it will ever see the light of day depends on how this legal battle unfolds.
This lawsuit isn’t just about protecting IP—it’s about preserving the soul of a franchise that has come to represent thoughtful storytelling in gaming. For fans of Horizon, the stakes are high. And for creators everywhere, it’s a reminder that originality still matters.