Tencent Challenges Sony’s Horizon Zero Dawn Lawsuit Over Light of Motiram

The legal confrontation between Sony Interactive Entertainment and Tencent has escalated, with Tencent issuing a formal rebuttal to Sony’s plagiarism claims. At the heart of the dispute is Light of Motiram, an upcoming game featuring robotic wildlife, which Sony alleges copies the style and presentation of Horizon Zero Dawn.

Tencent’s Counterarguments

Tencent has pushed back strongly, claiming Sony is attempting to monopolise an entire genre rather than protect genuine intellectual property. According to Tencent, Horizon was not the first game to depict a red-haired protagonist in a ruined civilisation populated by robotic creatures. They cite Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (2013), developed by Ninja Theory, as a key precedent predating Aloy’s adventure.

The company further argues that the lawsuit risks stifling creativity, preventing studios from exploring similar post-apocalyptic themes simply because of Horizon’s success.

Clarifying Development and Legal Claims

Tencent also highlighted that it is not directly developing Light of Motiram. Instead, the project is being handled by Polaris Quest (Shanghai) and Proximity Beta (Singapore), with Tencent acting as a parent company.

This detail, they say, undermines Sony’s claim that Tencent discussed a Horizon mobile adaptation in past meetings. Tencent maintains that no company representatives attended such talks, dismissing the connection as irrelevant.

Release Date Dispute

Another point of contention is the game’s release window. Sony stated that Light of Motiram was expected to launch in 2027, but Tencent labelled this speculation, noting that no official date has been announced and that significant elements of the game are still in development.

Industry Implications

The ongoing lawsuit between two of the industry’s biggest players highlights broader debates over originality, intellectual property, and genre ownership. With both companies prepared to take the matter to court, the outcome could establish a precedent affecting how future games are judged in relation to their inspirations.