San Mateo, CA – July 29, 2025 – Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has initiated a federal lawsuit against Chinese technology behemoth Tencent, alleging that Tencent's forthcoming game, "Light of Motiram," is a "slavish clone" that unlawfully replicates fundamental elements of Sony's highly successful Horizon video game series. The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, seeks up to $150,000 in statutory damages for each infringed work and an immediate injunction to prevent the game's release.
The legal action centers on the striking similarities between Light of Motiram and Sony's critically acclaimed titles, Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. Both feature red-haired female protagonists navigating post-apocalyptic worlds inhabited by robotic creatures. Sony's complaint argues that Tencent's promotional materials, including trailers and screenshots, have "misappropriated protectable elements" of the Horizonfranchise to a "significant degree," leading to consumer confusion regarding the games' relationship.
According to court documents, Tencent reportedly approached Sony at a March 2024 gaming conference in San Francisco, proposing a collaboration to develop a new Horizon game. Sony rejected this pitch. However, Sony claims that Tencent, undeterred by the refusal, continued to secretly develop Light of Motiram, with work allegedly beginning as early as 2023.
The lawsuit further details that when Sony attempted to resolve the dispute informally, Tencent once again sought to license the Horizon intellectual property. Sony reportedly declined firmly and demanded that Light of Motiram be withdrawn, but Tencent rejected these demands and signaled its intent to proceed with the game's development.
Sony is also leveraging public and media reactions to bolster its case, citing widespread recognition of the similarities. Various media outlets have reportedly dubbed Light of Motiram "Horizon Zero Originality," and numerous community comments describe it as "shameless." One Steam user comment included in the filing reportedly stated, "Not only does it look like a copy of the Horizon games, but you [can even] see it."
The Horizon series, which debuted in 2017, has sold tens of millions of copies across its various titles and spin-offs, solidifying its position as one of Sony's most valuable intellectual properties. Light of Motiram is currently under development by Polaris Quest, a Tencent subsidiary, and does not have a confirmed release date. Neither Sony nor Tencent have yet issued official comments regarding the ongoing lawsuit.
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