Sony Sues Tencent Over Game That Looks Just Like Horizon Zero Dawn

Sony Takes Legal Action Against Tencent Over Horizon Zero Dawn Clone

Sony Interactive Entertainment has officially filed a lawsuit against Tencent, the world’s largest gaming company, accusing it of copying key elements from the Horizon Zero Dawn series in its upcoming game Light of Motiram. The case centers on claims that Tencent’s new open-world title borrows heavily from the iconic PlayStation franchise.

Details of the lawsuit filed on July 25
Claims of intellectual property infringement by Tencent
Comparison between Light of Motiram and Horizon Zero Dawn
Tencent’s previous pitch to Sony for a Horizon spinoff
Public reaction and Sony’s legal demands

What’s the Issue?

Back in early 2025, Tencent revealed Light of Motiram, a futuristic open-world game developed by Polaris Quest. The game features a world ruled by machines and cybernetic creatures, a premise that closely mirrors the setting of Sony’s Horizon series. Sony argues that this similarity goes beyond inspiration and crosses into outright copying.

According to the lawsuit, Tencent’s game is a “slavish clone” that replicates many signature elements from Horizon Zero Dawn. The similarities include machine designs in white and blue color schemes, character outfits with brown leather accents, and even marketing materials showing the protagonist in a helmet reminiscent of Aloy’s look. Notably, Sony demands that Tencent hand over all such promotional content so they can be destroyed.

Background: Tencent’s Pitch to Sony

Interestingly, the legal documents reveal that Tencent previously approached Sony in 2024 via its Aurora Studios, proposing a collaboration on a mobile spinoff of the Horizon series. The pitch included ideas like adding “Eastern aesthetics,” survival and crafting mechanics, pet taming, and multiplayer features. Sony declined this offer. The pitch deck even featured mock-ups of Aloy standing on the Great Wall of China, emphasizing the Eastern influence Tencent wanted to bring.

Similarities and Differences

While the parallels to Horizon are striking, Light of Motiram also shows influences from other popular games. For example, the protagonist uses a glider reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and there’s a vehicle similar to the sparrow bikes from Destiny 2. The game also introduces co-op play, base-building, and crafting systems, which are less prominent in Horizon.

Despite these differences, many fans have pointed out the obvious resemblance. The top comment on the game’s YouTube trailer jokes, “When you lend your work to your school friend and tell him to copy it but change some things.” Sony even references such public sentiment in its lawsuit, highlighting news articles and fan remarks that call Tencent’s game “shameless” and accuse it of “Horizon Zero Originality.”

Current Status and Where to Find the Game

As of now, Light of Motiram is still available for wishlisting on both Steam and the Epic Games Store. Sony’s lawsuit aims to prevent Tencent from releasing the game altogether and seeks $150,000 in damages for each Horizon work infringed.

Polygon reached out to Sony Interactive Entertainment for comment and will provide updates if the company responds.