Sony has initiated a legal battle in a California federal court, accusing Tencent and its partner studio, Polaris Quest (also known as Aurora Studios), of producing a game that heavily imitates the Horizon franchise. According to Sony, the upcoming title Light of Motiram borrows so extensively from Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West that it constitutes clear intellectual property infringement. The legal filing outlines numerous parallels between the two games, including a red-haired female protagonist with tribal gear and a bow, who closely resembles Horizon’s lead character, Aloy. The games also share stylistic choices like futuristic wildlife, tribal-tech fusion aesthetics, and similar user interfaces.
(photo: Polaris Quest)
Sony is asking the court to stop Tencent from launching Light of Motiram in its current form within the U.S. market. Additionally, the company is pursuing financial compensation and wants Tencent to destroy promotional and in-game content it views as infringing. This case highlights an increasingly common issue in the gaming industry, where creative overlap and derivative designs are pushing legal boundaries. Sony’s move sends a message that it intends to vigorously defend its IP, particularly when a competitor’s game echoes its flagship series so closely. This is not the only game ongoing legal battles. Palworld, is being sued by Nintendo as well.
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