Sony's Horizon Multiplayer Game Arriving Sooner...Thanks to Tencent

New revelations regarding the Sony-Tencent fiasco are getting a considerable amount of attention in the gaming world. Sony has taken legal action against Tencent, accusing the company of replicating their widely popular Horizon franchise.

Ever since the release of Horizon Zero Dawn in 2017, the series has become one of PlayStation's flagship properties and has arguably cemented itself on the Mount Rushmore of PlayStation exclusives alongside blockbusters like the God of War series or Marvel's Spider-Man series.

Developed by Guerrilla Games, the series brings RPG-like action and stirs emotion like no other, which many deem innovative. Its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, further cemented its place as a premier franchise, with both critical acclaim and commercial success.

According to court documents, Tencent previously pitched Sony on developing a mobile version of the Horizon series. The proposal included plans to expand the PlayStation exclusive to Asia and incorporate multiplayer features along with live-service mechanics. While Sony acknowledged the passionate pitch, the company dismissively showed Tencent the door.

Tencent, however, did not wave the white flag there. What has raised legal red flags is that Tencent, at the time of this pitch, chose not to disclose that it was already developing a separate open-world title called Light of Motiram.

Sony now claims that this game bears a significant resemblance to its Horizon franchise, which, by the way, newsflash, would not be the first time for Tencent to have copied a competitor's product. Just like in the mid-2010s, when Tencent introduced Honor of Kings, a game that is a glaringly obvious imitation of Riot Games's League of Legends. 

While the visuals and narrative are strikingly similar, even the music used in the trailer seems to be inspired by the Horizon title. When Light of Motiram was first revealed, many fans immediately noticed the similarities, with some labeling it a blatant copy of Horizon's formula that we as fans know and love. 

Sony remained silent at the time, not addressing the elephant in the room, leading to speculation that the company may have chosen not to respond. However, recent developments have confirmed that Sony was, in fact, preparing a lawsuit.

The lawsuit accuses Tencent of copyright infringement and seeks to block the release of Light of Motiram. Sony argues that the similarities go beyond coincidence, and an illicit imitation of one of its most valuable IPs will certainly not go unpunished by the company.

The legal battle is unfolding at a crucial time, as Sony is reportedly working on its own online Horizon game, which also gives us more insight as to why Sony is pursuing legal action so vehemently. A more important conclusion we can take from this whole debacle is that Sony's multiplayer-focused Horizon title could be further along in development than we were led to believe.

With Sony actively trying to shut down any potential market competition, the stakes are still inevitably high. Whether Tencent will plead their case or make adjustments to their game remains uncertain, but one thing we all know about Sony is that they are a tough nut to crack, especially when it comes to legal battles.

For fans of the franchise, however, this legal drama raises a question we've all been waiting for an answer to: Would a Horizon game with online co-op elements, similar to Monster Hunter, be a welcome evolution or a step too far from its narrative roots?

The Horizon series is mainly praised for its narrative-driven gameplay, but a multiplayer setting may provide a different, refreshing prospect for fans, which we can only speculate upon until the game actually hits the shelves.