Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a high-profile lawsuit against Tencent Holdings in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 3:25‑cv‑06275), alleging that Tencent’s upcoming video game, Light of Motiram, is a blatant imitation of Sony’s acclaimed Horizon franchise. The complaint, filed last Friday, claims that Tencent’s game is a “slavish clone” of Horizon: Zero Dawn and Horizon: Forbidden West, mimicking everything from gameplay mechanics to visual style, thematic elements, and even marketing fonts.

Sony argues that these similarities are not coincidental. According to the lawsuit, Tencent had previously pitched a potential Horizon-related collaboration at the 2024 Game Developers Conference—an offer Sony declined. Despite this, Tencent reportedly moved forward with Light of Motiram, which Sony claims borrows so heavily from Horizon that it may mislead consumers into thinking the games are related.

Public Reaction and Industry Response

The backlash has been swift. Several gaming journalists have described Tencent’s game as a knock-off, with one critic coining the phrase “Horizon Zero Originality.” Sony cites this in the lawsuit as further evidence that public perception aligns with its claim of infringement.

In its filing, Sony is seeking an injunction to prevent Tencent from releasing Light of Motiram in its current form. The company is also asking the court for monetary damages, possibly as high as $150,000 per infringed work, and the destruction of any materials found to violate Sony’s intellectual property rights.

Horizon vs. Light of Motiram: A Closer Look

The Horizon games, first released in 2017 with Zero Dawn on PlayStation 4, feature a post-apocalyptic Earth teeming with robotic beasts and tribal societies. Players control Aloy, a red-haired warrior, in a world filled with mystery, survival, and ancient technology. Sony argues that Light of Motiram mirrors these exact elements—from its tribal setting and robot-like animals to the protagonist’s look and the game’s emotional tone. Even the promotional materials and in-game fonts bear a striking resemblance, according to the complaint.

Sony has also pointed out that both games share nearly identical gameplay features: hunting robotic creatures, navigating open environments, and crafting tools to survive. To support its claims, the lawsuit includes screenshots, side-by-side comparisons, and commentary from journalists and fans calling out the similarities.