Sony sues Tencent over Horizon Zero Dawn clone, Light of Motiram

Sony accuses Tencent of cloning Horizon Zero Dawn, seeking damages and destruction of the game.

: Sony has filed a lawsuit against Tencent, alleging that its game Light of Motiram is a direct clone of Horizon Zero Dawn. The legal action claims cosmetic and functional similarities, including environments, characters, and mechanics. Sony previously declined Tencent's proposal for a Horizon universe game, leading to the development of Light of Motiram. Sony seeks damages up to $150,000 per infringing work, the destruction of infringing materials, and prevention of further infringements.

Sony Interactive Entertainment filed a lawsuit on July 25, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing Tencent of developing a "slavish clone" of its Horizon franchise through the game Light of Motiram. Sony alleges that the new title, developed by Tencent’s subsidiary Polaris Quest, bears extensive similarities to Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, particularly in terms of character design, setting, and mechanical creature enemies. The red-haired female protagonist, the tribal-futuristic aesthetic, and key gameplay elements were cited as copied from Horizon.

The complaint further states that Tencent had approached Sony in March 2024 with a proposal to co-develop a mobile Horizon spin-off featuring Asian influences. Sony declined the offer, but Tencent allegedly continued working on a remarkably similar game independently. According to the lawsuit, this continuation was not just inspired but intentionally derivative, aiming to exploit Horizon’s brand recognition and fan base.

Sony is demanding statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each infringing work and an injunction to prevent the release of Light of Motiram. The lawsuit includes side-by-side visual comparisons and user feedback from online communities to show that audiences immediately recognized the similarities. Sony also claims that Tencent’s marketing was crafted to intentionally mislead gamers into thinking the game was associated with or endorsed by Sony.

The gaming community has reacted strongly, labeling Light of Motiram as “Horizon Zero Originality” and criticizing it as a “shameless” and “insane” copy. Analysts note that while cloning is not uncommon in the industry, this case stands out due to the sheer volume of audiovisual elements and gameplay design Sony claims were lifted. Sony emphasizes that protecting its IP is crucial for creative integrity in a market increasingly threatened by low-effort imitation.

As of now, Light of Motiram remains listed on Steam and the Epic Games Store without a confirmed release date. Tencent has not issued an official response. The legal proceedings could have broader implications for how intellectual property is protected in the global games industry, especially between Western publishers and Chinese developers operating under subsidiaries.

Sources: Reuters, Polygon, TechRadar, PC Gamer, The Verge

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