Light of Motiram faces legal heat as Sony alleges shameless imitation of the Horizon Franchise.
Sony is actually suing Tencent and independent developer Polaris Quest for making a game that looks a lot like the Horizon franchise. The game in question? Light of Motiram is a title that has caused a lot of questions since it was first announced at the end of 2018. It is now bringing up court papers.
People are talking again about how thin and often fuzzy the line is between inspiration and copying in the game world because of the lawsuit. What does Sony say? Horizon has an impact on Light of Motiram, but the game looks so much like Horizon that it could trick people into thinking it is part of the Horizon series.
You don’t have to strain your eyes to see the difference. A redheaded woman with a bow fights robotic dinosaurs in a beautiful open-world setting. Does this sound like a game you’ve played before? Sony thinks it’s not just a chance. They say it’s a brand misunderstanding, and they think it’s done on purpose.
Some watchers already knew something was wrong with Light of Motiram when it first came out. Not only were there themes, but there were also visual parallels. When you put the game’s cover art and marketing materials next to each other, it’s hard to miss the obvious: a heroine with red hair and a bow in her hand standing in front of a huge forest full of mech-like creatures. Sony thinks that this striking visual overlap could trick customers, especially those who don’t know much about either game.
The argument brings to mind recent court battles, such as the lawsuit between Palworld and Nintendo. But a lot of people say this case seems clearer. The Pokémon-like creatures in Palworld caused a lot of discussion, but Light of Motiram looks like it was copied right from Horizon: Zero Dawn.
Sony’s main legal point is that gamers who aren’t familiar with the series—or maybe just casual fans—could see Light of Motiram in a store or on a digital site and think it has something to do with Horizon. That’s not just damage to the company; that could mean lost money, trust, and reputation.
Sony’s claim that they turned down a request from Tencent to work together on a Horizon-related project makes the situation even more interesting. This case is even stronger if Light of Motiram is really the game Tencent was offering as part of that deal.
Imagine turning down a business offer only to find out later that a product that looks a lot like the one you turned down is now on the market. Sony doesn’t see this as imitation that leads to praise; they see it as direct market sabotage.
Tencent and Light of Motum could, of course, say that’s not true. Two games don’t have to play the same just because they look the same. Even though Light of Motiram might look and feel a lot like Horizon, the way it’s played might be different enough to give Tencent some legal room to move. That will likely be a big part of Tencent’s defense if the case goes to court.
This isn’t just about one game; it’s about creative ownership in a time when different types of games and styles often mix. Where does “copied from” end and “inspired by” begin?
Some might say that iteration is what the game business is all about. Shooters take ideas from other shooters, RPGs use techniques from other RPGs, and design tropes are always being used in new games. After all, how many games like Dark Souls have come out since it became popular? But there is a difference between honoring someone and taking their whole personality.
Sony thinks that the visual and thematic similarities are too big to ignore in this case, especially since they could change how people act. It’s not always how the game plays that worries them; it’s how it looks, how it’s marketed, and how it might make players confused.
And to be honest, that’s a strong case.
It’s too early to tell how this will go in court, but the case has already caused strong reactions in the community. There are gamers who agree with Sony that Light of Motiram goes too far. Others defend Tencent by saying that genre staples and archetypes often overlap and that the gaming world lives on change, not on being exclusive.
Sony could set a bad example if they win the case, telling other companies not to get too close to well-known franchises. If Tencent can avoid the case, on the other hand, it could mean that more games that look like the original can come out, as long as they are different enough in how they play.
One thing is clear: Sony isn’t messing around, no matter where you stand on the issue. Their IP is very important to them, and Horizon is one of their most famous titles. If they think someone is making money off of confusion or taking attention away from their environment, they will immediately file a lawsuit.
The business will be keeping a close eye on the lawsuit as it develops. People who work on games, produce games, and play games are all interested in where the courts decide the line between homage and theft.
Until then, the battlefield isn’t just open-world games set after the end of the world; it’s also the courts.
