Sony Sues Tencent Over Alleged Horizon Clone "Light of Motiram"

Tencent has long been a mainstay in the mobile gaming industry, known for owning or investing in some of the biggest studios, which include Riot Games, Epic Games, and Supercell. However, Tencent does hold a notorious reputation for imitating blockbuster games from rival studios. In the past, the company has also faced harsh criticism for releasing titles that were inspired by existing hits. The Chinese giant now finds itself hanging in the balance amidst a legal tug-of-war with Sony.

Sony has officially filed a lawsuit against Tencent, looking to block the release of its upcoming title Light of Motiram, which Sony claims is an imitation of the PlayStation's Horizon series. Filed in California, the complaint accuses Tencent of copying a lot of the series' core identity. Motiram is now drawing comparisons with Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, inciting major controversy amongst the two multi-million-dollar companies.

Light of Motiram features a post-apocalyptic setting ranging from robotic dinosaurs to tropical forests similar to the creative design in the Horizon games. Its protagonist is a red-haired tribal warrior equipped with high-tech gear, identical to Aloy, the central figure of Horizon. Sony says that this is no mere coincidence, but an intentional replication of one of its most iconic titles.

What makes the case interesting is Tencent's history with the Horizon IP. Sony revealed that Tencent had approached them for licensing rights to build a Horizon-esque game. Sony declined, but Tencent still persisted with the development of Light of Motiram. Sony also claims it attempted to resolve the issue internally when it discovered the game's development, but Tencent responded by trying once again to secure licensing rights, which Sony denied for a second time.

Despite the rejection, Tencent was adamant on proceeding to launch marketing campaigns for Light of Motiram, making Sony pursue legal action. Screenshots and promotional materials from both games have surfaced online, revealing striking similarities between the two, angering Sony in the process, and we all know what lengths Sony is capable of going to when it comes to protecting its exclusives.

This situation shines light on a familiar pattern from the past. In the mid-2010s, Tencent tried to collaborate with Riot Games to bring League of Legends to mobile. When Riot refused, Tencent released Honor of Kings, a mobile game that contained quite some resemblance to League of Legends. Despite initial backlash, Honor of Kings went on to become one of the highest-grossing mobile games of all time.

Now, Tencent seems to be using a similar tactic in the console space. Light of Motiram is currently slated for release on PC and PlayStation 5, which is ironic given that Sony doesn't want the game to hit the shelves. It remains unclear how Tencent planned to launch the game on a Sony platform without them being aware of it.

Speculation suggests that Tencent may attempt to settle out of court, potentially paying Sony compensation in order to move forward with the game's launch. With its immense financial backing, Tencent is not a new name in the world of legal battles, but this dispute does make you question Tencent's authenticity.

As the legal drama unfolds, it calls for our attention. Light of Motiram is a perfect case study for the formula that many studios, apart from Tencent, apply, showcasing that authenticity always prevails. Eventually, if Light of Motiram sees the light of day, it remains to be seen.