Sony Initiates Legal Action Against Tencent Over Alleged 'Horizon Zero Dawn' Rip-off

The Battle for Innovation: When Inspiration Crosses into Imitation

Unveiling the Controversy: The Genesis of the Legal Dispute

Just seven months following its announcement, Tencent's ambitious open-world game, Light of Motiram, developed by Polaris Quest, has become the subject of intense scrutiny. The game, set in a futuristic world dominated by robotic life forms, immediately drew comparisons to Sony and Guerrilla Games' Horizon series. These parallels, particularly evident in the visual presentation of cybernetic wildlife, have now escalated into a formal lawsuit from Sony, aiming to prevent the game's commercial launch.

Allegations of Infringement: Sony's Stance on Intellectual Property

The core of Sony's legal challenge, filed on July 25, is the assertion that Light of Motiram flagrantly infringes upon its intellectual property. Sony Interactive Entertainment is not only seeking an injunction against the game's release but also demanding $150,000 in statutory damages for each instance of alleged infringement relating to its Horizon titles. The lawsuit characterizes Tencent's creation as a \"slavish clone,\" highlighting what Sony perceives as a deliberate replication of signature elements from its PlayStation exclusive series.

A Rejected Collaboration: The Precursor to Conflict

Adding a layer of intrigue to the lawsuit, Sony claims that Tencent, through its Aurora Studios, approached them in 2024 with a proposition for a mobile spin-off of the Horizon series. Sony declined this offer, which, according to the lawsuit, envisioned incorporating \"Eastern aesthetics,\" along with survival, crafting, pet taming, and multiplayer functionalities. The legal document further details that Tencent's pitch included visual concepts, such as protagonist Aloy positioned against the backdrop of the Great Wall of China.

Striking Resemblances: Visuals and Marketing Under Scrutiny

A closer examination of Light of Motiram's promotional material reveals distinct similarities to the Horizon universe. The mechanical adversaries in Tencent's game share a white and blue color scheme with those in Horizon, while character designs incorporate indigenous-inspired motifs with technological accents. Although Motiram's protagonist features dark, shorter hair in contrast to Aloy's signature long red locks, their attire exhibits comparable elements, notably the prevalence of brown leather. Furthermore, Sony points out that Tencent's marketing extensively utilizes an in-game helmet that makes the Motiram protagonist strikingly resemble Aloy, prompting Sony to demand the destruction of these promotional assets.

Beyond Horizon: Other Influences and Unique Elements

While the pervasive influence of Horizon is undeniable, the trailer for Light of Motiram also hints at other notable inspirations from the gaming landscape. A scene depicting the player character gliding onto a beach echoes the traversal mechanics of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and a vehicle design brings to mind the sparrow bikes from Destiny 2. Despite these clear influences, Light of Motiram attempts to carve its own niche through features like cooperative gameplay, base construction, and an emphasis on resource gathering and crafting, commonly seen in contemporary survival games, including the familiar act of felling trees.

Public Perception and Legal Reinforcement: The Echoes of Fan Sentiment

The striking resemblances between the two games have not gone unnoticed by the gaming community. Comments on Light of Motiram's trailer, such as the widely shared joke, \"When you lend your work to your school friend and tell him to copy it but change some things,\" underscore the public's perception of the game as a derivative work. Sony leverages this widespread sentiment within its lawsuit, citing numerous news articles and fan observations that critically label Tencent's game as \"shameless\" and deride it as \"Horizon Zero Originality,\" reinforcing the claims of intellectual property infringement.