Tencent has agreed to suspend all promotion and public testing of its game Light of Motiram while Sony’s copyright infringement lawsuit progresses through the courts. This decision comes after Sony accused the Chinese gaming giant of creating a blatant clone of its blockbuster Horizon franchise. The temporary halt aims to avoid prejudicing the legal proceedings as both companies prepare for upcoming court dates.
Details of the Court Agreement
In a recent court filing, Tencent committed to ceasing any new promotional activities or public beta tests for Light of Motiram during the resolution of Sony’s injunction request. This concession grants Sony additional time to review Tencent’s formal response to the preliminary injunction. Both parties have jointly requested consolidation of the injunction hearing and Tencent’s motion to dismiss, potentially scheduling arguments as early as January 2026.
Sony’s Legal Claims Against Tencent
Sony Interactive Entertainment filed the lawsuit alleging that Light of Motiram constitutes a “slavish clone” of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. The complaint highlights striking similarities in core gameplay mechanics, character designs, environmental aesthetics, and marketing visuals that could confuse consumers. Sony seeks a permanent court order blocking sales and distribution of the game worldwide, citing irreparable harm to its intellectual property.
Similarities Between Light of Motiram and Horizon
Light of Motiram features an open-world setting where players hunt massive robotic creatures in a post-apocalyptic landscape overgrown with vegetation. Protagonists wield bows, spears, and traps against mechanical beasts that echo Horizon’s signature machine wildlife. Promotional materials showcase female warriors in tribal attire battling colossal robo-dinosaurs, mirroring Aloy’s iconic silhouette and combat style from Sony’s series.
Key Differences in Gameplay Focus
Despite visual parallels, Light of Motiram emphasizes cooperative survival mechanics over Horizon’s single-player narrative adventure. Tencent positions the game as a multiplayer hunting experience where teams collaborate to craft gear, build bases, and tackle boss encounters. This PvE co-op structure draws inspiration from survival titles rather than Horizon’s third-person action-RPG framework inspired by The Legend of Zelda.
Tencent’s Corporate Gaming Empire
As the world’s largest gaming company by revenue, Tencent maintains an extensive portfolio spanning development, publishing, and investment. The corporation wholly owns Riot Games (League of Legends), Supercell (Clash of Clans), and Funcom (Conan Exiles). Significant stakes in Epic Games, Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, and Larian Studios provide Tencent substantial influence across PC, console, and mobile gaming ecosystems globally.
Timeline of the Horizon Controversy
Sony discovered Light of Motiram during its closed alpha testing phase earlier this year, prompting immediate legal action. Tencent had planned widespread public beta recruitment and aggressive marketing campaigns before the lawsuit halted progress. Trailers and screenshots circulating online fueled speculation about potential infringement, drawing millions of views before promotional materials were pulled from official channels.
Potential Outcomes of the Legal Battle
A favorable ruling for Sony could result in Light of Motiram’s complete cancellation or significant redesign, setting precedent for international IP protection in gaming. Tencent’s dismissal motion argues lack of jurisdiction or insufficient evidence of copying, potentially prolonging litigation across multiple venues. Resolution may reshape content guidelines for Chinese developers targeting Western markets.
How Game Developers Can Protect Intellectual Property
– Register copyrights and trademarks early for characters, worlds, and signature mechanics.
– Monitor competitor announcements and alpha tests for potential infringements.
– Document visual asset creation processes to establish original authorship.
– Pursue preliminary injunctions to halt infringing products before market launch.
– Build global legal teams familiar with cross-border IP enforcement challenges.
Industry Implications for IP Enforcement
The lawsuit underscores escalating tensions between Western IP holders and Chinese publishers entering global markets. High-profile cases like this influence studio risk assessments for ambitious open-world projects. Developers must navigate cultural adaptation pressures while preserving unique artistic identities, potentially spurring innovation in gameplay systems rather than visual mimicry.
Future Prospects for Both Franchises
Regardless of legal outcome, Horizon continues development on Horizon 3 with Lego spin-offs planned. Tencent may pivot Light of Motiram toward distinct survival-crafting elements if redesign proves viable. The controversy highlights gaming’s maturation where billion-dollar IPs demand rigorous protection, fostering healthier competition through genuine innovation over imitation.
