Sony has introduced a lawsuit in opposition to Tencent within the US, accusing the Chinese language agency of infringing its copyright with an upcoming sport that it says intently resembles its Horizon franchise. Tencent introduced Gentle of Motiram, an open-world survival title, final 12 months, that immediately caught individuals’s consideration for its similarities to Horizon video games. As per Reuters, Sony is now suing the corporate, claiming the sport is a “slavish clone” of its first-party action-adventure franchise.
Sony Sues Tencent Over Copyright Infringement
In accordance Reuters’ report, Sony mentioned in its lawsuit that Tencent’s Gentle of Motiram copies a number of components from Guerrilla Video games’ Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel Horizon Forbidden West. The offending sport may, Sony argued, confuse prospects.
Sony additional claimed in its lawsuit that Tencent had approached it with a suggestion to collaborate on a brand new “Horizon” sport in 2024, which the PlayStation guardian declined. Tencent then went on and introduced Light of Motiram, which — based on the Reuters report —Sony mentioned featured gameplay, story themes and inventive components an identical to Horizon video games.
Sony is searching for financial damages from Tencent and an injunction blocking the corporate from infringing its mental property.
Light of Motiram was announced in November 2024 and immediately drew criticism for its visible and thematic similarities to Horizon video games. The Tencent sport options tameable mechanical animals, referred to as “Mechanimals”, and is about in a post-apocalyptic wilderness — each very harking back to Horizon Zero Daybreak. The sport additionally options survival and crafting components just like Palworld. Gentle of Motiram is developed by Polaris Quest and is at present accessible to wishlist on Steam. Tencent has not confirmed a launch date for the sport but.
In its lawsuit, Sony has additionally lastly confirmed franchise gross sales for Horizon video games. Based on court docket paperwork, as noticed by X user @shinobi602, the Horizon franchise has bought over 38 million copies globally. Sony’s franchise gross sales quantity would come with the 2 mainline Horizon video games and their DLC content material, the remastered model of Horizon Zero Daybreak, Lego Horizon Adventures spinoff, and Horizon Name of the Mountain VR title.