Katarzyna Petru
Sony Interactive Entertainment is bringing out the heavy artillery against Tencent – one of the largest players in the global gaming market. The issue is with "Light of Motiram" – a new, online survival game with an open world, which according to the Japanese is… too similar to their iconic Horizon series. Or rather so similar that – as stated in the lawsuit – it constitutes a “blatant copy”.
Light of Motiram vs Horizon. Where Does Inspiration End?
As soon as the first materials from the Chinese production appeared online, the gaming community quickly started to notice striking similarities to "Horizon: Zero Dawn" and "Forbidden West". From character designs, to landscapes and graphics, all the way to exploration methods and interface style – gamers were asking outright: "Is this not just a clone of Horizon?"
It seems that Sony shared similar feelings, except that… they went a step further and filed an official lawsuit against Tencent. The case has gone to federal court in California, where the Japanese company alleges copyright and trademark infringement.
Tencent previously wanted to collaborate with Sony
As reported by Reuters, last year Tencent approached Sony with a proposal to collaborate on the next installment of Horizon. The Japanese giant politely declined. A few months later, "Light of Motiram" appeared – a game that, according to Sony's lawsuit, "may mislead players" due to its style and structure resembling the hit from Guerrilla Games.
Sony also cites numerous articles and media opinions that label the new game as a "knockoff" of Horizon. Such a portrayal of the production leaves little room for diplomacy – hence the legal offensive.
What next?
Sony is demanding not only compensation (the amount has not been disclosed) but also a court injunction against the infringement of their intellectual property. If the court rules in their favour, Tencent may have a serious problem – not only reputationally but also financially.
At this moment, both parties are silent, and “Light of Motiram” has yet to premiere. Will this title even make it to market? We will probably find out only after the first hearings.
