Tencent Pauses Light of Motiram Promotion as Sony Secures Key Legal Concessions

It is unusual for an unreleased game to become globally recognised not for its gameplay, visuals, or community, but for a courtroom battle. Yet that is precisely the situation surrounding Tencent’s Light of Motiram. This title has been embroiled in controversy since Sony accused it of bearing striking similarities to Guerrilla Games’ Horizon series.

The legal conflict has now moved into a new phase, with Sony securing several key conditions from Tencent.

Tencent Grants Concessions in Exchange for Deadline Extension

According to a report from GamePost, Sony has successfully negotiated a deadline extension for Tencent’s response to a Preliminary Injunction request first filed in October 2025.

A preliminary injunction is a court order that can temporarily restrict a company’s activities until a final judgment is issued. To obtain this extension, Tencent agreed to three significant commitments.

Marketing Freeze on Light of Motiram

The first condition prevents Tencent from engaging in any promotional activities related to Light of Motiram for the duration of the injunction delay. All advertising, showcases, trailers, and public communications tied to the game are now paused, effectively putting its marketing cycle on hold.

No Public Testing Until Further Notice

The second agreement bars Tencent from running any public testing phases during this period. This includes beta tests, technical trials, or early access programmes that could otherwise help refine the game and build player interest.

No Accelerated Release Before Q4 2027

The third and most notable condition is Tencent’s commitment not to move the game’s release earlier than Q4 2027. While this does not confirm an exact launch date, it eliminates the possibility of Tencent fast-tracking Light of Motiram to hit the market while the lawsuit remains unresolved.

A full court decision on whether Sony’s Preliminary Injunction will be approved or dismissed is scheduled for mid-January 2026. Until then, the game remains in a state of enforced silence.

Context: Sony’s Broader Horizon Strategy

The legal dispute unfolds as Sony prepares to expand the Horizon universe even further. Horizon Steel Frontiers, its new MMORPG in collaboration with NCSoft, continues to generate buzz ahead of its own rollout, making the timing of the lawsuit all the more consequential.

For now, the future of Light of Motiram sits in legal limbo, with its release plans stalled and promotional efforts frozen as the courtroom drama continues.