Katarzyna Petru
Sony Interactive Entertainment is bringing out the big guns against Tencent – one of the largest players in the global gaming market. It concerns “Light of Motiram” – a new online survival game set in an open world, which the Japanese claim is… too similar to their iconic Horizon series. Or rather so similar that – as we read in the lawsuit – it constitutes a “blatant copy”.
Light of Motiram versus Horizon. Where does inspiration end?
As soon as the first materials from the Chinese production appeared online, the gaming community quickly began to notice striking similarities to "Horizon: Zero Dawn" and "Forbidden West". From character designs, through landscapes and graphic style, to the method of exploration and interface aesthetics – players asked directly: "Isn't this just a clone of Horizon?"
It seems that Sony had similar feelings, except that… it went a step further and filed an official lawsuit against Tencent. The case reached a federal court in California, where the Japanese company alleges copyright and trademark infringement.
Tencent previously sought collaboration with Sony
As revealed by Reuters, as early as last year, Tencent approached Sony with a proposal to collaborate on the next iteration of Horizon. However, the Japanese giant politely declined. A few months later, "Light of Motiram" was released – 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 refers to numerous articles and media opinions that describe the new game as a "knock-off" 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 infringing their intellectual property. If the court rules in their favour, Tencent may face serious issues – not only in terms of reputation but also financially.
At this moment, both parties are silent, and "Light of Motiram" has yet to be released. Will this title even make it to the market? We will likely find out only after the first hearings.
