Sony has filed a lawsuit against Tencent, alleging that the company created a "slavish clone" of its "valuable" Horizon franchise

Sony has initiated a copyright lawsuit against Tencent, accusing the company of producing a game, Light of Motiram, that closely mimics its acclaimed Horizon series. Sony describes this series as one of its crucial intellectual properties.

According to legal documents initially covered by Reuters, Sony seeks both a jury trial for alleged copyright and trademark violations and a halt to Tencent's game release. The claims suggest that Tencent's marketing and promotional efforts mislead fans into thinking Light of Motiram is a continuation of the Horizon saga, featuring gameplay elements and visuals reminiscent of Horizon's protagonist, Aloy.

The legal filing notes that in 2023 Tencent began work on Light of Motiram, which Sony claims mirrors Horizon's themes, emphasizing a red-haired heroine and tribal factions battling large robotic creatures post-catastrophe. Tencent purportedly showcased a presentation slide underlining their admiration of Sony's work, claiming they were devoted fans.

The filing further explains that during a gaming event in San Francisco in March 2024, Tencent's executives pitched the idea of co-developing a Horizon game with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), which Sony declined.

Sony now alleges that Tencent continued the development of Light of Motiram in secret, infringing on Sony's intellectual property without authorization.

The complaint highlights that many, including industry observers and gamers, have identified evident resemblances between Tencent’s upcoming game and Sony’s Horizon titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, concluding the former is a direct imitation.

Sony has reportedly engaged in discussions with Tencent to amicably resolve the dispute, during which Tencent renewed its interest in acquiring licenses for Horizon. Sony stood firm against this, reiterating its refusal after promotional content for Light of Motiram surfaced, interpreting Tencent's actions as dismissing Sony’s objections.

GamesIndustry.biz has approached Tencent and Sony for additional statements.