Sony accuses Tencent of copying Horizon in new lawsuit

Sony has filed a significant lawsuit against Tencent

Sony Interactive Entertainment filed the lawsuit on July 25, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that Tencent’s upcoming game Light of Motiram is a “slavish clone” of its Horizon franchise.

The complaint claims copyright and trademark infringement, citing sweeping gameplay, characters, and visual style similarities.

Sony seeks statutory damages and a court order to block the game’s release. This legal move marks one of the biggest IP clashes in the gaming world this year.

Sony claims the similarities are shocking

According to the lawsuit, Tencent’s game mimics everything from robotic enemies and tribal aesthetics to the protagonist’s design.

Sony says players and critics alike have described the similarities as “crazy,” “insane,” and “shameless.” Even Light of Motiram‘s marketing allegedly mirrors Horizon’s, leading to widespread confusion among gamers who assumed it was an official sequel.

Sony argues this deliberate imitation creates marketplace confusion and damages its brand.

Sony rejected Tencent’s licensing request

Before developing Light of Motiram, Tencent approached Sony at the 2024 Game Developers Conference to propose a licensed Horizon game. Sony declined. Despite that, Tencent allegedly moved forward anyway.

Sony’s lawsuit states that Tencent was fully aware of Horizon’s design and deliberately borrowed from it without permission, ignoring repeated refusals and continuing development through its subsidiary, Aurora Studios.

Tencent allegedly sought a Horizon sequel deal

The complaint outlines that Tencent initially pitched a Horizon sequel, suggesting the addition of Eastern influences, survival elements, and even multiplayer.

The pitch reportedly included concept art with Aloy atop the Great Wall of China. Sony says it rejected the idea, yet Tencent proceeded to build Light of Motiram using what Sony argues are clear derivations of its iconic franchise.

Sony accuses Tencent of copying Aloy’s design

Sony’s complaint points to Light of Motiram’s protagonist, who resembles Aloy not just in silhouette but also in promotional materials’ outfits, accessories, and even hairstyles.

The lawsuit argues that Tencent intentionally used this lookalike in trailers and game art to boost interest, tricking viewers into thinking it was connected to Horizon. Sony wants all such marketing assets destroyed as part of the legal remedy.

Game fans also noticed the close resemblance

Online reactions to the Light of Motiram trailer echo Sony’s concerns. Comments on Reddit and YouTube mock the game for its unoriginality, calling it “Horizon Zero Originality.”

Sony cites this user feedback in court filings to bolster its claim that the copying is not just noticeable but egregious. The public response is now part of Sony’s legal argument for consumer confusion and reputational harm.

Horizon’s style is central to the complaint

Sony’s filing highlights visual commonalities between the robotic wildlife games, sweeping vistas, and tribal themes. Both games showcase characters surviving in machine-dominated worlds with bows, gadgets, and nature-meets-tech landscapes.

Even trailers’ lighting, camera angles, and UI design appear closely matched. Sony argues this overlap could not have occurred coincidentally and should be enjoined as unlawful duplication.

Sony says Motiram’s gameplay is nearly identical

The complaint claims that Light of Motiram copies Horizon’s core mechanics, including hunting giant robot creatures, crafting items, and exploring a post-apocalyptic open world.

Both games feature tribes, techno-animal hybrids, and a female lead fighting to uncover the truth. While Motiram has added base-building and co-op, Sony says these tweaks are superficial and don’t erase the clear foundation lifted from Horizon.

Marketing materials are part of the dispute

Sony is asking the court to force Tencent to hand over all promotional assets for Light of Motiram. They argue that the pre-release trailers and screenshots mirror those from Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West.

The similar fonts, UI designs, and visual framing allegedly make it easy for consumers to mistake the new game as a Horizon sequel or spin-off, which Sony sees as deliberate deception.

Tencent is promoting the game under aliases

In its lawsuit, Sony claims Tencent is behind Light of Motiram through its subsidiaries Polaris Quest and Aurora Studios. While the game is officially listed under Polaris Quest, Sony argues Tencent Shanghai controls these entities.

It is also being used to distance the game from Tencent’s primary corporate identity. This adds a layer of complexity to Sony’s legal pursuit.

Sony says prior negotiations failed

Sony reportedly tried to resolve the issue with Tencent privately. After rejecting the initial pitch, Sony says it repeatedly communicated that it would not license Horizon assets and objected to Light of Motiram’s development.

Despite this, Tencent allegedly continued production and began public promotion. Sony says Tencent’s disregard for its objections forced it to take legal action.

Horizon’s commercial success raises the stakes

Since launching in 2017, the Horizon franchise has sold millions of copies worldwide. With spin-offs like LEGO Horizon Adventures and even a Netflix adaptation, Horizon is one of PlayStation’s most valuable IPs.

Sony argues that Light of Motiram undermines this success by diluting the brand and exploiting the franchise’s popularity to generate hype under pretenses.

The lawsuit seeks an immediate injunction

Sony has asked the court to stop Tencent from releasing Light of Motiram preliminarily and permanently. With no release date announced, Sony wants to halt all distribution, marketing, and development activities.

The lawsuit includes a demand to destroy all infringing materials, including promotional content and in-game assets resembling Horizon. If successful, this could shut the project down entirely.

Damages could reach millions in court

Sony seeks statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, in the Horizon franchise, or actual damages if greater, along with attorneys’ fees and an injunction.

With multiple games, spin-offs, and allegedly copied branded assets, the final penalty could run into the millions if awarded. Sony also seeks compensation for attorney fees and court costs as part of the judgment.

Legal experts expect a high-stakes standoff

Given the scope of the accusations, the value of the Horizon IP, and Tencent’s vast resources, legal analysts say this case could result in a drawn-out court battle or a massive settlement.

If Sony wins, it could strengthen IP protections for other AAA developers. If Tencent prevails or negotiates a deal, it may encourage more developers to walk the line between homage and infringement.

Curious how this legal drama ties into the future of gaming? Here’s why the next-gen consoles aren’t stealing the spotlight just yet.

Horizon fans are rallying behind Sony

The gamer community appears to side with Sony, based on early reactions. Social media is filled with memes and outrage, accusing Tencent of lacking originality. Comments like “Horizon Zero Budget” and “Ctrl+C gaming” have gone viral.

For many players, this isn’t just a legal dispute; it’s about respecting creativity in an industry that increasingly blurs the line between inspiration and imitation.

Want to see the other battle Sony’s fighting? Their game pricing strategy is sparking legal heat of its own.

What do you think about Sony accusing Tencent of copying the Horizon game? Please share your thoughts and drop a comment.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.